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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3022-0.txt b/3022-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..434dbcd --- /dev/null +++ b/3022-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2844 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox, Jr. + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Cumberland Vendetta + +Author: John Fox, Jr. + +Release Date: January, 2002 [Etext #3022] +Posting Date: October 9, 2009 +Last Updated: March 14, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA *** + + + + +Produced by David Reed + + + + + + + + +A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA + +By John Fox Jr. + + +TO MINERVA AND ELIZABETH + + + + +I + +THE cave had been their hiding-place as children; it was a secret refuge +now against hunger or darkness when they were hunting in the woods. The +primitive meal was finished; ashes were raked over the red coals; the +slice of bacon and the little bag of meal were hung high against +the rock wall; and the two stepped from the cavern into a thicket of +rhododendrons. + +Parting the bushes toward the dim light, they stood on a massive +shoulder of the mountain, the river girding it far below, and the +afternoon shadows at their feet. Both carried guns-the tall mountaineer, +a Winchester; the boy, a squirrel rifle longer than himself. Climbing +about the rocky spur, they kept the same level over log and bowlder and +through bushy ravine to the north. In half an hour, they ran into a path +that led up home from the river, and they stopped to rest on a cliff +that sank in a solid black wall straight under them. The sharp edge of a +steep corn-field ran near, and, stripped of blade and tassel, the stalks +and hooded ears looked in the coming dusk a little like monks at prayer. +In the sunlight across the river the corn stood thin and frail. Over +there a drought was on it; and when drifting thistle-plumes marked the +noontide of the year, each yellow stalk had withered blades and an empty +sheath. Everywhere a look of vague trouble lay upon the face of the +mountains, and when the wind blew, the silver of the leaves showed +ashen. Autumn was at hand. + +There was no physical sign of kinship between the two, half-brothers +though they were. The tall one was dark; the boy, a foundling, had +flaxen hair, and was stunted and slender. He was a dreamy-looking little +fellow, and one may easily find his like throughout the Cumberland-paler +than his fellows, from staying much indoors, with half-haunted face, and +eyes that are deeply pathetic when not cunning; ignorantly credited with +idiocy and uncanny powers; treated with much forbearance, some awe, and +a little contempt; and suffered to do his pleasure-nothing, or much that +is strange-without comment. + +“I tell ye, Rome,” he said, taking up the thread of talk that was broken +at the cave, “when Uncle Gabe says he's afeard thar's trouble comm', +hit's a-comm'; 'n' I want you to git me a Winchester. I'm a-gittin' big +enough now. I kin shoot might' nigh as good as you, 'n' whut am I fit +fer with this hyeh old pawpaw pop-gun?” + +“I don't want you fightin', boy, I've told ye. Y'u air too little 'n' +puny, 'n' I want ye to stay home 'n' take keer o' mam 'n' the cattle-ef +fightin' does come, I reckon thar won't be triuch.” + +“Don't ye?” cried the boy, with sharp contempt--“with ole Jas Lewallen +a-devilin' Uncle Rufe, 'n' that blackheaded young Jas a-climbin' on +stumps over thar 'cross the river, n' crowin' n' sayin' out open in +Hazlan that ye air afeard o him? Yes; 'n' he called me a idgit.” The +boy's voice broke into a whimper of rage. + +“Shet up, Isom! Don't you go gittin' mad now. You'll be sick ag'in. I'll +tend to him when the time comes.” Rome spoke with rough kindness, but +ugly lines had gathered at his mouth and forehead. The boy's tears came +and went easily. He drew his sleeve across his eyes, and looked up the +river. Beyond the bend, three huge birds rose into the sunlight and +floated toward them. Close at hand, they swerved side-wise. + +“They hain't buzzards,” he said, standing up, his anger gone; “look at +them straight wings!” + +Again the eagles swerved, and two shot across the river. The third +dropped with shut wings to the bare crest of a gaunt old poplar under +them. + +“Hit's a young un, Romey,” said the boy, excitedly. “He's goin' to wait +thar tell the old uns come back. Gimme that gun!” + +Catching up the Winchester, he slipped over the ledge; and Rome leaned +suddenly forward, looking down at the river. + +A group of horsemen had ridden around the bend, and were coming at +a walk down the other shore. Every man carried something across his +saddle-bow. There was a gray horse among them--young Jasper's--and an +evil shadow came into Rome's face, and quickly passed. Near a strip of +woods the gray turned up the mountain from the party, and on its back he +saw the red glint of a woman's dress. With a half-smile he watched the +scarlet figure ride from the woods, and climb slowly up through the +sunny corn. On the spur above and full in the rich yellow light, she +halted, half turning in her saddle. He rose to his feet, to his full +height, his head bare, and thrown far back between his big shoulders, +and, still as statues, the man and the woman looked at each other across +the gulf of darkening air. A full minute the woman sat motionless, then +rode on. At the edge of the woods she stopped and turned again. + +The eagle under Rome leaped one stroke in the air, and dropped like a +clod into the sea of leaves. The report of the gun and a faint cry of +triumph rose from below. It was good marksmanship, but on the cliff Rome +did not heed it. Something had fluttered in the air above the girl's +head, and he laughed aloud. She was waving her bonnet at him. + + + + +II + +JUST where young Stetson stood, the mountains racing along each bank of +the Cumberland had sent out against each other, by mutual impulse, +two great spurs. At the river's brink they stopped sheer, with crests +uplifted, as though some hand at the last moment had hurled them apart, +and had led the water through the breach to keep them at peace. To-day +the crags looked seamed by thwarted passion; and, sullen with firs, they +made fit symbols of the human hate about the base of each. + +When the feud began, no one knew. Even the original cause was forgotten. +Both families had come as friends from Virginia long ago, and had lived +as enemies nearly half a century. There was hostility before the +war, but, until then, little bloodshed. Through the hatred of change, +characteristic of the mountaineer the world over, the Lewallens were for +the Union. The Stetsons owned a few slaves, and they fought for them. +Peace found both still neighbors and worse foes. The war armed them, +and brought back an ancestral contempt for human life; it left them a +heritage of lawlessness that for mutual protection made necessary the +very means used by their feudal forefathers; personal hatred supplanted +its dead issues, and with them the war went on. The Stetsons had a good +strain of Anglo-Saxon blood, and owned valley-lands; the Lewallens +kept store and made “moonshine”; so kindred and debtors and kindred and +tenants were arrayed with one or the other leader, and gradually the +retainers of both settled on one or the other side of the river. In time +of hostility the Cumberland came to be the boundary between life and +death for the dwellers on each shore. It was feudalism born again. + +Above one of the spurs each family had its home; the Stetsons, under +the seared face of Thunderstruck Knob; the Lewallens, just beneath the +wooded rim of Wolf's Head. The eaves and chimney of each cabin were +faintly visible from the porch of the other. The first light touched the +house of the Stetsons; the last, the Lewallen cabin. So there were times +when the one could not turn to the sunrise nor the other to the sunset +but with a curse in his heart, for his eye must fall on the home of his +enemy. + +For years there had been peace. The death of Rome Stetson's father from +ambush, and the fight in the court-house square, had forced it. After +that fight only four were left-old Jasper Lewallen and young Jasper, the +boy Rome and his uncle, Rufe Stetson. Then Rufe fled to the West, and +the Stetsons were helpless. For three years no word was heard of him, +but the hatred burned in the heart of Rome's mother, and was traced deep +in her grim old face while she patiently waited the day of retribution. +It smouldered, too, in the hearts of the women of both clans who had +lost husbands or sons or lovers; and the friends and kin of each had +little to do with one another, and met and passed with watchful eyes. +Indeed, it would take so little to turn peace to war that the wonder was +that peace had lived so long. Now trouble was at hand. Rufe Stetson had +come back at last, a few 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 battle-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 open the war, +and they believed Rufe had gone for arms. So they had chafed in the +store all day, and all day Lewallens on horseback and on foot were in +sight; and each was a taunt to every Stetson, and, few as they were, +the young and hot-headed wanted to go out and fight. In the afternoon +a tale-bearer had brought some of Jasper's boasts to Rome, and, made +reckless by moonshine and much brooding, he sprang up to lead them. +Steve Marcum, too, caught up his gun, but old Sam's counsel checked him, +and the two by force held Rome back. A little later the Lewallens left +town. The Stetsons, too, disbanded, and on the way home a last drop of +gall ran Rome's cup of bitterness over. Opposite Steve Brayton's cabin +a jet of smoke puffed from the bushes across the river, and a bullet +furrowed the road in front of him. That was the shot they had heard at +the mill. Somebody was drawing a dead-line, and Rome wheeled his horse +at the brink of it. A mocking yell came over the river, and a gray horse +flashed past an open space in the bushes. Rome knew the horse and +knew the yell; young Jasper was “bantering” him. Nothing maddens the +mountaineer like this childish method of insult; and telling of it, Rome +sat in a corner, and loosed a torrent of curses against young Lewallen +and his clan. + +Old Gabe had listened without a word, and the strain in his face was +eased. Always the old man had stood for peace. He believed it had come +after the court-house fight, and he had hoped against hope, even +when Rufe came back to trade against old Jasper; for Rufe was big and +good-natured, and unsuspected of resolute purpose, and the Lewallens' +power had weakened. So, now that Rufe was gone again, the old miller +half believed he was gone for good. Nobody was hurt; there was a chance +yet for peace, and with a rebuke on his tongue and relief in his face, +the old man sat back in his chair and went on whittling. The boy +turned eagerly to a crevice in the logs and, trembling with excitement, +searched the other bank for Jasper's gray horse, going home. + +“He called me a idgit,” he said to himself, with a threatening shake of +his head. “Jes wouldn't I like to hev a chance at him! Rome ull git him! +Rome ull git him!” + +There was no moving point of white on the broad face of the mountains +nor along the river road. Jasper was yet to come and, with ears alert +to every word behind him, the lad fixed his eyes where he should see him +first. + +“Oh, he didn't mean to hit me. Not that he ain't mean enough to shoot +from the bresh,” Rome broke out savagely. “That's jes whut I'm afeard +he will do. Thar was too much daylight fer him. Ef he jes don't come +a-sneakin' over hyeh, 'n' waitin' in the lorrel atter dark fer me, it's +all I axe.” + +“Waitin' in the lorrel!” Old Gabe could hold back no longer. “Hit's a +shame, a burn-in' shame! I don' know whut things air comm' to! 'Pears +like all you young folks think about is killin' somebody. Folks usen +to talk about how fer they could kill a deer; now it's how fer they kin +kill a man. I hev knowed the time when a man would 'a' been druv out +o' the county fer drawin' a knife ur a pistol; 'n' ef a feller was ever +killed, it was kinder accidental, by a Barlow. I reckon folks got use' +to weepons 'n' killin' 'n' bushwhackin' in the war. Looks like it's been +gittin' wuss ever sence, 'n' now hit's dirk 'n' Winchester, 'n' shootin' +from the bushes all the time. Hit's wuss 'n stealin' money to take a +feller-creetur' s life that way!” + +The old miller's indignation sprang from memories of a better youth. For +the courtesies of the code went on to the Blue Grass, and before the +war the mountaineer fought with English fairness and his fists. It was a +disgrace to use a deadly weapon in those days; it was a disgrace now not +to use it. + +“Oh, I know all the excuses folks make,” he went on: “hit's fa'r fer one +as 'tis fer t'other; y'u can't fight a man fa'r 'n' squar' who'll shoot +you in the back; a pore man can't fight money in the couhts; 'n' thar +hain't no witnesses in the lorrel but leaves; 'n' dead men don't hev +much to say. I know it all. Hit's cur'us, but it act'-ally looks like +lots o' decent young folks hev got usen to the idee-thar's so much of +it goin' on, 'n' thar's so much talk 'bout killin' 'n' layin' out in the +lorrel. Reckon folks 'll git to pesterm' women n' strangers bimeby, 'n' +robbin' 'n' thievin'. Hit's bad enough thar's so leetle law thet folks +hev to take it in their own hands oncet in a while, but this shootin' +from the bresh-hit's p'int'ly a sin 'n' shame! Why,” he concluded, +pointing his remonstrance as he always did, “I seed your grandad and +young Jas's fight up thar in Hazlan full two hours 'fore the war-fist +and skull-'n' your grandad was whooped. They got up and shuk hands. I +don't see why folks can't fight that way now. I wish Rufe 'n' old Jas +'n' you 'n' young Jas could have it out fist and skull, 'n' stop this +killin' o' people like hogs. Thar's nobody left but you four. But thar's +no chance o' that, I reckon.” + +“I'll fight him anyway, 'n' I reckon ef he don't die till I lay out in +the lorrel fer him, he'll live a long time. Ef a Stetson ever done sech +meanness as that I never heerd it.” + +“Nother hev I,” said the old man, with quick justice. “You air a +over-bearin' race, all o' ye, but I never knowed ye to be that mean. +Hit's all the wus fer ye thet ye air in sech doin's. I tell ye, Rome--” + +A faint cry rose above the drone of the millstones, and old Gabe stopped +with open lips to listen. The boy's face was pressed close to the logs. +A wet paddle had flashed into the sunlight from out the bushes across +the river. He could just see a canoe in the shadows under them, and with +quick suspicion his brain pictured Jasper's horse hitched in the bushes, +and Jasper stealing across the river to waylay Rome. But the canoe moved +slowly out of sight downstream and toward the deep water, the paddler +unseen, and the boy looked around with a weak smile. Neither seemed to +have heard him. Rome was brooding, with his sullen face in his hands; +the old miller was busy with his own thoughts; and the boy turned again +to his watch. + +Jasper did not come. Isom's eyes began to ache from the steady gaze, and +now and then he would drop them to the water swirling beneath. A slow +wind swayed the overhanging branches at the mouth of the stream, and +under them was an eddy. Escaping this, the froth and bubbles raced out +to the gleams beating the air from the sunlit river. He saw one tiny +fleet caught; a mass of yellow scum bore down and, sweeping through +bubbles and eddy, was itself struck into fragments by something afloat. +A tremulous shadow shot through a space of sunlight into the gloom cast +by a thicket of rhododendrons, and the boy caught his breath sharply. A +moment more, and the shape of a boat and a human figure quivered on the +water running under him. The stern of a Lewallen canoe swung into the +basin, and he sprang to his feet. + +“Rome!” The cry cut sharply through the drowsy air. “Thar he is! Hit's +Jas!” + +The old miller rose to his feet. The boy threw himself behind the sacks +of grain. Rome wheeled for his rifle, and stood rigid before the door. +There was a light step without, the click of a gun-lock within; a shadow +fell across the doorway, and a girl stood at the threshold with an empty +bag in her hand. + + + + +V + +WITH a little cry she shrank back a step. Her face paled and her lips +trembled, and for a moment she could not speak. But her eyes swept the +group, and were fixed in two points of fire on Rome. + +“Why don't ye shoot!” she asked, scornfully. + +“I hev heerd that the Stetsons have got to makin war on women-folks, but +I never believed it afore.” Then she turned to the miller. + +“Kin I git some more meal hyeh?” she asked. “Or have ye stopped sellin' +to folks on t'other side?” she added, in a tone that sought no favor. + +“You kin have all ye want,” said old Gabe, quietly. + +“The mill on Dead Crick is broke ag'in,” she continued, “'n' co'n is +skeerce on our side. We'll have to begin buyin' purty soon, so I thought +I'd save totin' the co'n down hyeh.” She handed old Gabe the empty bag. + +“Well,” said he, “as it air gittin' late, 'n' ye have to climb the +mountain ag'in, I'll let ye have that comm' out o' the hopper now. Take +a cheer.” + +The girl sat down in the low chair, and, loosening the strings of her +bonnet, pushed it back from her head. An old-fashioned horn comb dropped +to the floor, and when she stooped to pick it up she let her hair fall +in a head about her shoulders. Thrusting one hand under it, she calmly +tossed the whole mass of chestnut and gold over the back of the chair, +where it fell rippling like water through a bar of sunlight. With head +thrown back and throat bared, she shook it from side to side, and, +slowly coiling it, pierced it with the coarse comb. Then passing her +hands across her forehead and temples, as women do, she folded them in +her lap, and sat motionless. The boy, crouched near, held upon her the +mesmeric look of a serpent. Old Gabe was peering covertly from under the +brim of his hat, with a chuckle at his lips. Rome had fallen back to a +corner of the mill, sobered, speechless, his rifle in a nerveless hand. +The passion that fired him at the boy's warning had as swiftly gone down +at sight of the girl, and her cutting rebuke made him hot again with +shame. He was angry, too-more than angry-because he felt so helpless, +a sensation that was new and stifling. The scorn of her face, as he +remembered it that morning, hurt him again while he looked at her. A +spirit of contempt was still in her eyes, and quivering about her thin +lips and nostrils. She had put him beneath further notice, and yet every +toss of her head, every movement of her hands, seemed meant for him, +to irritate him. And once, while she combed her hair, his brain whirled +with an impulse to catch the shining stuff in one hand and to pinion +both her wrists with the other, Just to show her that he was master, and +still would harm her not at all. But he shut his teeth, and watched her. +Among mountain women the girl was more than pretty; elsewhere only her +hair, perhaps, would have caught the casual eye. She wore red homespun +and coarse shoes; her hands were brown and hardened. Her arms and +shoulders looked muscular, her waist was rather large-being as nature +meant it-and her face in repose had a heavy look. But the poise of her +head suggested native pride and dignity; her eyes were deep, and full of +changing lights; the scarlet dress, loose as it was, showed rich curves +in her figure, and her movements had a certain childlike grace. Her brow +was low, and her mouth had character; the chin was firm, the upper lip +short, and the teeth were even and white. + +“I reckon thar's enough to fill the sack, Isom,” said the old miller, +breaking the strained silence of the group. The girl rose and handed him +a few pieces of silver. + +“I reckon I'd better pay fer it all,” she said. “I s'pose I won't be over +hyeh ag'in.” + +Old Gabe gave some of the coins back. + +“Y'u know whut my price al'ays is,” he said. + +“I'm obleeged,” answered the girl, flushing. + +“Co'n hev riz on our side. I thought mebbe you charged folks over thar +more, anyways.” + +“I sells fer the same, ef co'n is high ur low,” was the answer. “This +side or t'other makes no diff'unce to me. I hev frien's on both sides, +'n' I take no part in sech doin's as air a shame to the mountains.” + +There was a quick light of protest in the girl's dark eyes; but the old +miller was honored by both factions, and without a word she turned to +the boy, who was tying the sack. + +“The boat's loose!” he called out, with the string between his teeth; +and she turned again and ran out. Rome stood still. + +“Kerry the sack out, boy, 'n' holp the gal.” Old Gabe's voice was stern, +and the young mountaineer doggedly swung the bag to his shoulders. The +girl had caught the rope, and drawn the rude dugout along the shore. + +“Who axed ye to do that?” she asked, angrily. + +Rome dropped the bag into the boat, and merely looked her in the face. + +“Look hyeh, Rome Stetson”--the sound of his name from her lips almost +startled him--“I'll hev ye understan' that I don't want to be bounden to +you, nor none o' yer kin.” + +Turning, she gave an impatient sweep with her paddle. The prow of the +canoe dipped and was motionless. Rome had caught the stern, and the girl +wheeled in hot anger. Her impulse to strike may have been for the +moment and no longer, or she may have read swiftly no unkindness in the +mountaineer's steady look; for the uplifted oar was stayed in the air, +as though at least she would hear him. + +“I've got nothin' ag'in' you,” he said, slowly, “Jas Lewallen hev been +threatenin' me, 'n' I thought it was him, 'n' I was ready fer him, when +you come into the mill. I wouldn't hurt you nur no other woman. Y'u +ought to know it, 'n' ye do know it.” + +The words were masterful, but said in a way that vaguely soothed the +girl's pride, and the oar was let slowly into the water. + +“I reckon y'u air a friend o' his,” he added, still quietly. “I've seed +ye goin' up thar, but I've got nothin' ag'in' ye, whoever ye be.” + +She turned on him a sharp look of suspicion. “I reckon I do be a friend +o' hisn,” she said, deliberately; and then she saw that he was in +earnest. A queer little smile went like a ray of light from her eyes +to her lips, and she gave a quick stroke with her paddle. The boat shot +into the current, and was carried swiftly toward the Cumberland. The +girl stood erect, swaying through light and shadow like a great scarlet +flower blowing in the wind; and Rome watched her till she touched the +other bank. Swinging the sack out, she stepped lightly after it, and, +without looking behind her, disappeared in the bushes. + +The boy Isom was riding away when Rome, turned, and old Gabe was +watching from the door of the mill. + +“Who is that gal?” he asked, slowly. It seemed somehow that he had known +her a long while ago. A puzzled frown overlay his face, and the old +miller laughed. + +“You a-axin' who she be, 'n' she a-axin who you be, 'n' both o' ye +a-knowin' one 'nother sence ye was knee-high. Why, boy, hit's old +Jasper's gal--Marthy!” + + + + +VI + +IN a flash of memory Rome saw the girl as vividly as when he last saw +her years ago. They had met at the mill, he with his father, she with +hers. There was a quarrel, and the two men were held apart. But the old +sore as usual was opened, and a week later Rome's father was killed +from the brush. He remembered his mother's rage and grief, her calls for +vengeance, the uprising, the fights, plots, and ambushes. He remembered +the look the girl had given him that long ago, and her look that day was +little changed. + +When fighting began, she had been sent for safety to the sister of her +dead mother in another county. When peace came, old Jasper married again +and the girl refused to come home. Lately the step-mother, too, had +passed away, and then she came back to live. All this the old miller +told in answer to Rome's questions as the two walked away in the +twilight. This was why he had not recognized her, and why her face yet +seemed familiar even when he crossed the river that morning. + +“Uncle Gabe, how do you reckon the gal knowed who I was?” + +“She axed me.” + +“She axed you! Whar?” + +“Over thar in the mill.” The miller was watching the young mountaineer +closely. The manner of the girl was significant when she asked who Rome +was, and the miller knew but one reason possible for his foolhardiness +that morning. + +“Do you mean to say she have been over hyeh afore?” + +“Why, yes, come to think about it, three or four times while Isom was +sick, and whut she come fer I can't make out. The mill over thar wasn't +broke long, 'n' why she didn't go thar or bring more co'n at a time, to +save her the trouble o' so many trips, I can't see to save me.” + +Young Stetson was listening eagerly. Again the miller cast his bait. + +“Mebbe she's spyin'.” + +Rome faced him, alert with suspicion; but old Gabe was laughing +silently. + +“Don't you be a fool, Rome. The gal comes and goes in that boat, 'n' +she couldn't see a soul without my knowin' it. She seed ye ridin' by one +day, 'n' she looked mighty cur'us when I tole her who ye was.” + +Old Gabe stopped his teasing, Rome's face was so troubled, and himself +grew serious. + +“Rome,” he said, earnestly, “I wish to the good Lord ye wasn't in sech +doin's. Ef that had been young Jas 'stid o' Marthy, I reckon ye would +'a' killed him right thar.” + +“I wasn't going to let him kill me,” was the sullen answer. + +The two had stopped at a rickety gate swinging open on the road. The +young mountaineer was pushing a stone about with the toe of his boot. +He had never before listened to remonstrance with such patience, and old +Gabe grew bold. + +“You've been drinkin' ag'in, Rome,” he said, sharply, “'n' I know it. +Hit's been moonshine that's whooped you Stetsons, not the Lewallens, +long as I kin rickollect, 'n' it ull be moonshine ag'in ef ye don't let +it alone.” + +Rome made no denial, no defence. “Uncle Gabe,” he said slowly, still +busied with the stone, “hev that gal been over hyeh sence y'u tol' her +who I was?” + +The old man was waiting for the pledge that seemed on his lips, but he +did not lose his temper. + +“Not till to-day,” he said, quietly. + +Rome turned abruptly, and the two separated with no word of parting. +For a moment the miller watched the young fellow striding away under his +rifle. + +“I have been atter peace a good while,” he said to himself, “but I +reckon thar's a bigger hand a-workin' now than mine.” Then he lifted his +voice. “Ef Isom's too sick to come down to the mill to-morrer, I wish +you'd come 'n' holp me.” + +Rome nodded back over his shoulder, and went on, with head bent, along +the river road. Passing a clump of pines at the next curve, he pulled a +bottle from his pocket. + +“Uncle Gabe's about right, I reckon,” he said, half aloud; and he raised +it above his head to hurl it away, but checked it in mid-air. For a +moment he looked at the colorless liquid, then, with quick nervousness, +pulled the cork of sassafras leaves, gulped down the pale moonshine, and +dashed the bottle against the trunk of a beech. The fiery stuff does +its work in a hurry. He was thirsty when he reached the mouth of a brook +that tumbled down the mountain along the pathway that would lead him +home, and he stooped to drink where the water sparkled in a rift of +dim light from overhead. Then he sat upright on a stone, with his wide +hat-brim curved in a crescent over his forehead, his hands caught about +his knees, and his eyes on the empty air. + +He was scarcely over his surprise that the girl was young Lewallen's +sister, and the discovery had wrought a curious change. The piquant +impulse of rivalry was gone, and something deeper was taking its place. +He was confused and a good deal troubled, thinking it all over. He +tried to make out what the girl meant by looking at him from the +mountain-side, by waving her bonnet at him, and by coming to old Gabe's +mill when she could have gone to her own. To be sure, she did not know +then who he was, and she had stopped coming when she learned; but why +had she crossed again that day? Perhaps she too was bantering him, and +he was at once angry and drawn to her; for her mettlesome spirit touched +his own love of daring, even when his humiliation was most bitter-when +she told him he warred on women; when he held out to her the branch +of peace and she swept it aside with a stroke of her oar. But Rome was +little conscious of the weight of subtle facts like these. His unseeing +eyes went back to her as she combed her hair. He saw the color in her +cheeks, the quick light in her eyes, the naked, full throat once more, +and the wavering forces of his unsteady brain centred in a stubborn +resolution-to see it all again. He would make Isom stay at home, if need +be, and he would take the boy's place at the mill. If she came there no +more, he would cross the river again. Come peace or war, be she friend +or enemy, he would see her. His thirst was fierce again, and, with this +half-drunken determination in his heart, he stooped once more to drink +from the cheerful little stream. As he rose, a loud curse smote the air. +The river, pressed between two projecting cliffs, was narrow at that +point, and the oath came across the water. An instant later a man led a +lamed horse from behind a bowlder, and stooped to examine its leg. The +dusk was thickening, but Rome knew the huge frame and gray beard of old +Jasper Lewallen. The blood beat in a sudden tide at his temples, and, +half by instinct, he knelt behind a rock, and, thrusting his rifle +through a crevice, cocked it softly. + +Again the curse of impatience came over the still water, and old Jasper +rose and turned toward him. The glistening sight caught in the centre of +his beard. That would take him in the throat; it might miss, and he let +the sight fall till the bullet would cut the fringe of gray hair into +the heart. Old Jasper, so people said, had killed his father in just +this way; he had driven his uncle from the mountains; he was trying +now to revive the feud. He was the father of young Jasper, who had +threatened his life, and the father of the girl whose contempt had cut +him to the quick twice that day. Again her taunt leaped through his +heated brain, and his boast to the old miller followed it. His finger +trembled at the trigger. + +“No; by ----, no!” he breathed between his teeth; and old Jasper passed on, +unharmed. + + + + +VII + +NEXT day the news of Rufe Stetson's flight went down the river on the +wind, and before nightfall the spirit of murder was loosed on both +shores of the Cumberland. The more cautious warned old Jasper. The +Stetsons were gaining strength again, they said; so were their feudsmen, +the Marcums, enemies of the Braytons, old Jasper's kinspeople. Keeping +store, Rufe had made money in the West, and money and friends right +and left through the mountains. With all his good-nature, he was a +persistent hater, and he was shrewd. He had waited the chance to put +himself on the side of the law, and now the law was with him. But old +Jasper laughed contemptuously. Rufe Stetson was gone again, he said, as +he had gone before, and this time for good. Rufe had tried to do +what nobody had done, or could do, while he was alive. Anyway, he was +reckless, and he cared little if war did come again. Still, the old man +prepared for a fight, and Steve Marcum on the other shore made ready for +Rufe's return. + +It was like the breaking of peace in feudal days. The close kin of each +leader were already about him, and now the close friends of each took +sides. Each leader trading in Hazlan had debtors scattered through the +mountains, and these rallied to aid the man who had befriended them. +There was no grudge but served a pretext for partisanship in the coming +war. Political rivalry had wedged apart two strong families, the Marcums +and Braytons; a boundary line in dispute was a chain of bitterness; a +suit in a country court had sown seeds of hatred. Sometimes it was a +horse-trade, a fence left down, or a gate left open, and the trespassing +of cattle; in one instance, through spite, a neighbor had docked the +tail of a neighbor's horse--had “muled his critter,” as the owner +phrased the outrage. There was no old sore that was not opened by the +crafty leaders, no slumbering bitterness that they did not wake to life. +“Help us to revenge, and we will help you,” was the whispered promise. +So, had one man a grudge against another, he could set his foot on one +or the other shore, sure that his enemy would be fighting for the other. + +Others there were, friends of neither leader, who, under stress of +poverty or hatred of work, would fight with either for food and clothes; +and others still, the ne'er-do-wells and outlaws, who fought by the day +or month for hire. Even these were secured by one or the other faction, +for Steve and old Jasper left no resource untried, knowing well that the +fight, if there was one, would be fought to a quick and decisive end. +The day for the leisurely feud, for patient planning, and the slow +picking off of men from one side or the other, was gone. The people in +the Blue Grass, who had no feuds in their own country, were trying +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. No greeting passed. The girl lifted +her head with a little toss that deepened the set look about the +mountaineer's mouth; her lax figure grew tense as though strung suddenly +against some coming harm, and her eyes searched the shadows without once +resting on him. + +“Whar's Uncle Gabe?” She spoke shortly, and as to a stranger. + +“Gone to town,” said Rome, composedly. “He had schooled himself for this +meeting.” + +“When's he comm' back?” + +“Not 'fore night, I reckon.” + +“Whar's Isom?” + +“Isom's sick.” + +“Well, who's tendin' this mill?” + +For answer he tossed the empty bag into the corner and, without looking +at her, picked up another bag. + +“I reckon ye see me, don't ye?” he asked, coolly. “Hev a cheer, and +rest a spell. Hit's a purty long climb whar you come from.” + +The girl was confused. She stayed in the doorway, a little helpless +and suspicious. What was Rome Stetson doing here? His mastery of the +situation, his easy confidence, puzzled and irritated her. Should she +leave? The mountaineer was a Stetson, a worm to tread on if it crawled +across the path. It would be like backing down before an enemy. He might +laugh at her after she was gone, and, at that thought, she sat down in +the chair with composed face, looking through the door at the tumbling +water, which broke with a thousand tints under the sun, but able still +to see Rome, sidewise, as he moved about the hopper, whistling softly. + +Once she looked around, fancying she saw a smile on his sober face. +Their eyes came near meeting, and she turned quite away. + +“Ever seed a body out'n his head?” + +The girl's eyes rounded with a start of surprise. + +“Well, it's plumb cur'us. Isom's been that way lately. Isom's sick, ye +know. Uncle Gabe's got the rheumatiz, 'n' Isom's mighty fond o' Uncle +Gabe, 'n' the boy pestered me till I come down to he'p him. Hit p'int'ly +air strange to hear him talkin'. He's jes a-ravin' 'bout hell 'n' +heaven, 'n' the sin o' killin' folks. You'd ha' thought he hed been +convicted, though none o' our fambly hev been much atter religion. He +says as how the wrath uv a livin' God is a-goin' to sweep these mount +ins, ef some mighty tall repentin' hain't done. Of co'se he got all them +notions from Gabe. But Isom al'ays was quar, 'n' seed things hisself. He +ain't no fool!” + +The girl was listening. Morbidly sensitive to the supernatural, she had +turned toward him, and her face was relaxed with fear and awe. + +“He's havin' dreams 'n' sech-like now, 'n' I reckon thar's nothing he's +seed or heerd that he don' talk about. He's been a-goin' on about you,” + he added, abruptly. The girl's hands gave a nervous twitch. “Oh, he +don't say nothin' ag'in' ye. I reckon he tuk a fancy to ye. Mam was +plumb distracted, not knowin' whar he had seed ye. She thought it was +like his other talk, 'n' I never let on-a-knowin' how mam was.” A flush +rose like a flame from the girl's throat to her hair. “But hit's this,” + Rome went on in an unsteady tone, “that he talks most about, 'n' I'm +sorry myself that trouble's a-comm'.” He dropped all pretence now. “I've +been a-watchin' fer ye over thar on t' other shore a good deal lately. I +didn't know ye at fust, Marthy”--he spoke her name for the first time-- +“'n' Gabe says y'u didn't know me. I remembered ye, though, 'n' I want +to tell ye now what I tol' ye then: I've got nothin' ag'in you. I was +hopin' ye mought come over ag'in--hit was sorter cur'us that y'u was the +same gal--the same gal--” + +His self-control left him; he was halting in speech, and blundering +he did not know where. Fumbling an empty bag at the hopper, he had not +dared to look at the girl till he heard her move. She had risen, and +was picking up her bag. The hard antagonism of her face calmed him +instantly. + +“Hain't ye goin' to have yer grist ground?” + +“Not hyeh,” she answered, quickly. + +“Why, gal--” He got no further. Martha was gone, and he followed her to +the bank, bewildered. + +The girl's suspicion, lulled by his plausible explanation, had grown +sharp again. The mountaineer knew that she had been coming there. He was +at the mill for another reason than to take the boy's place; and with +swift intuition she saw the truth. + +He got angry as she rode away--angry with himself that he had let her go; +and the same half-tender, half-brutal impulse seized him as when he saw +her first. This time he yielded. His horse was at hand, and the river +not far below was narrow. The bridle-path that led to the Lewallen +cabin swerved at one place to a cliff overlooking the river, and by hard +riding and a climb of a few hundred feet on foot he could overtake her +half-way up the mountain steep. + +The plan was no more than shaped before he was in the saddle and +galloping down the river. The set of his face changed hardly a line +while he swam the stream, and, drenched to the waist, scaled the cliff. +When he reached the spot, he found the prints of a woman's shoe in the +dust of the path, going down. There were none returning, and he had +not long to wait. A scarlet bit of color soon flashed through the gray +bushes below him. The girl was without her bag of corn. She was climbing +slowly, and was looking at the ground as though in deep thought. +Reckless as she was, she had come to realize at last just what she had +done. She had been pleased at first, as would have been any woman, when +she saw the big mountaineer watching her, for her life was lonely. +She had waved her bonnet at him from mere mischief. She hardly knew it +herself, but she had gone across the river to find out who he was. She +had shrunk from him as from a snake thereafter, and had gone no more +until old Jasper had sent her because the Lewallen mill was broken, and +because she was a woman, and would be safe from harm. She had met him +then when she could not help herself. But now she had gone of her own +accord. She had given this Stetson, a bitter enemy, a chance to see her, +to talk with her. She had listened to him; she had been on the point of +letting him grind her corn. And he knew how often she had gone to the +mill, and he could not know that she had ever been sent. Perhaps he +thought that she had come to make overtures of peace, friendship, even +more. The suspicion reddened her face with shame, and her anger at him +was turned upon herself. Why she had gone again that day she hardly +knew. But if there was another reason than simple perversity, it was the +memory of Rome Stetson's face when he caught her boat and spoke to her +in a way she could not answer. The anger of the moment came with every +thought of the incident afterward, and with it came too this memory of +his look, which made her at once defiant and uneasy. She saw him now +only when she was quite close, and, startled, she stood still; his stern +look brought her the same disquiet, but she gave no sign of fear. + +“Whut's the matter with ye?” + +The question was too abrupt, too savage, and the girl looked straight at +him, and her lips tightened with a resolution not to speak. The movement +put him beyond control. + +“Y'u puts hell into me, Marthy Lewallen; y'u puts downright hell into +me.” The words came between gritted teeth. “I want to take ye up 'n' +throw ye off this cliff clean into the river, 'n' I reckon the next +minute I'd jump off atter ye. Y'u've 'witched me, gal! I forgits who ye +air 'n' who I be, 'n' sometimes I want to come over hyeh 'n' kerry +ye out'n these mountins, n' nuver come back. You know whut I've been +watchin' the river fer sence the fust time I seed ye. You know whut I've +been a-stayin' at the mill fer, 'n' Steve mad 'n' mam a-jowerin'--'n' +a-lookin' over hyeh fer ye night 'n' day! Y'u know whut I've jes swum +over hyeh fer! Whut's the matter with ye?” + +Martha was not looking for a confession like this. It took away +her shame at once, and the passion of it thrilled her, and left her +trembling. While he spoke her lashes drooped quickly, her face softened, +and the color came back to it. She began intertwining her fingers, and +would not look up at him. + +“Ef y'u hates me like the rest uv ye, why don't ye say it right out? 'N' +ef ye do hate me, whut hev you been lookin' 'cross the river fer, 'n' +a-shakin' yer bonnet at me, 'n' paddlin' to Gabe's fer yer grist, when +the mill on Dead Crick's been a-runnin', 'n' I know it? You've been +banterin' me, hev ye?”--the blood rose to his eyes again. “Ye mustn't +fool with me, gal, by ----, ye mustn't. Whut hev you been goin' over thar +fer?” He even took a threatening step toward her, and, with a helpless +gesture, stopped. The girl was a little frightened. Indeed, she smiled, +seeing her power over him; she seemed even about to laugh outright; +but the smile turned to a quick look of alarm, and she bent her +head suddenly to listen to something below. At last she did speak. +“Somebody's comm'!” she said. “You'd better git out o' the way,” she +went on, hurriedly. “Somebody's comm', I tell ye! Don't ye hear?” + +It was no ruse to get rid of him. The girl's eyes were dilating. +Something was coming far below. Rome could catch the faint beats of a +horse's hoofs. He was unarmed, and he knew it was death for him to be +seen on that forbidden mountain; but he was beyond caution, and ready to +welcome any vent to his passion, and he merely shook his head. + +“Ef it's Satan hisself, I hain't goin' to run.” The hoof-beats came +nearer. The rider must soon see them from the coil below. + +“Rome, hit's Jas! He's got his rifle, and he'll kill ye, 'n' me too!” + The girl was white with distress. She had called him by his name, and +the tone was of appeal, not anger. The black look passed from his face, +and he caught her by the shoulders with rough tenderness; but she pushed +him away, and without a word he sprang from the road and let himself +noiselessly down the cliff. The hoof-beats thundered above his head, and +Young Jasper's voice hailed Martha. + +“This hyeh's the bigges' meal I ever straddled. Why d'n't ye git the +grist ground?” + +For a moment the girl did not answer, and Rome waited, breathless. +“Wasn't the mill runnin'? Whyn't ye go on 'cross the river? + +“That's whut I did,” said the girl, quietly. “Uncle Gabe wasn't thar, 'n' +Rome Stetson was. I wouldn't 'low him to grin' the co 'n, 'n' so I toted +hit back.” + +“Rome Stetson!” The voice was lost in a volley of oaths. + +The two passed out of hearing, and Rome went plunging down the mountain, +swinging recklessly from one little tree to another, and wrenching limbs +from their sockets out of pure physical ecstasy. When he reached his +horse he sat down, breathing heavily, on a bed of moss, with a strange +new yearning in his heart. If peace should come! Why not peace, if Rufe +should not come back? He would be the leader then, and without him there +could be no war. Old Jasper had killed his father. He was too young at +the time to feel poignant sorrow now, and somehow he could look even at +that death in a fairer way. His father had killed old Jasper's brother. +So it went back: a Lewallen killed a Stetson; that Stetson had killed a +Lewallen, until one end of the chain of deaths was lost, and the first +fault could not be placed, though each clan put it on the other. In +every generation there had been compromises--periods of peace; why not +now? Old Gabe would gladly help him. He might make friends with young +Jasper; he might even end the feud. And then-he and Martha-why not? He +closed his eyes, and for one radiant moment t all seemed possible. And +then a gaunt image rose in the dream, and only the image was left. +It was the figure of his mother, stern and silent through the years, +opening her grim lips rarely without some curse against the Lewallen +race. He remembered she had smiled for the first time when she heard of +the new trouble-the flight of his uncle and the hope of conflict. She +had turned to him with her eyes on fire and her old hands clinched. She +had said nothing, but he understood her look. And now-Good God! what +would she think and say if she could know what he had done? His whole +frame twitched at the thought, and, with a nervous spring to escape it, +he was on his feet, and starting down the mountain. + +Close to the river he heard voices below him, and he turned his horse +quickly aside into the bushes. Two women who had been washing clothes +passed, carrying white bundles home. They were talking of the coming +feud. + +“That ar young Stetson ain't much like his dad,” said one. “Young Jas +has been a-darin' 'n' a-banterin' him, 'n' he won't take it up. They say +he air turnin' out a plumb coward.” + +When he reached the Stetson cabin three horses with drooping heads were +hitched to the fence. All had travelled a long way. One wore a man's +saddle; on the others were thick blankets tied together with leathern +thongs. + +In the dark porch sat several men. Through the kitchen door he could see +his mother getting supper. Inside a dozen rifles leaned against the wall +in the firelight, and about their butts was a pile of ammunition. In the +doorway stood Rufe Stetson. + + + + +IX + +ALL were smoking and silent. Several spoke from the shadows as Rome +stepped on the porch, and Rufe Stetson faced him a moment in the +doorway, and laughed. + +“Seem kinder s'prised?” he said, with a searching look. “Wasn't lookin' +for me? I reckon I'll s'prise sev'ral ef I hev good-luck.” + +The subtlety of this sent a chuckle of appreciation through the porch, +but Rome passed in without answer. + +Isom lay on his bed within the circle of light, and his face in the +brilliant glow was white, and his eyes shone feverishly. “Rome,” he +said, excitedly, “Uncle Rufe's hyeh, 'n' they laywayed him, 'n'----” + He paused abruptly. His mother came in, and at her call the mountaineers +trooped through the covered porch, and sat down to supper in the +kitchen. They ate hastily and in silence, the mother attending their +wants, and Rome helping her. The meal finished, they drew their chairs +about the fire. Pipes were lighted, and Rufe Stetson rose and closed the +door. + +“Thar's no use harryin' the boy,” he said; “I reckon he'll be too puny to +take a hand.” + +The mother stopped clearing the table, and sat on the rock hearth close +to the fire, her withered lips shut tight about a lighted pipe, and her +sunken eyes glowing like the coal of fire in its black bowl. Now and +then she would stretch her knotted hands nervously into the flames, or +knit them about her knees, looking closely at the heavy faces about her, +which had lightened a little with expectancy. Rufe Stetson stood before +the blaze, his hands clasped behind him, and his huge figure bent in +reflection. At intervals he would look with half-shut eyes at Rome, who +Sat with troubled face outside the firelight. Across the knees of Steve +Marcum, the best marksman in the mountains, lay the barrel of a new +Winchester. Old Sam Day, Rufe's father-in-law and counsellor to the +Stetsons for a score of years, sat as if asleep on the opposite side of +the fireplace from the old mother, with his big square head pressed down +between his misshapen shoulders. + +“The time hev come, Rome.” Rufe spoke between the puffs of his pipe, and +Rome's heart quickened, for every eye was upon him. “Thar's goin' to +be trouble now. I hear as how young Jasper hev been talkin' purty tall +about ye--'lowin' as how ye air afeard O' him.” + +Rome felt his mother's burning look. He did not turn toward her nor +Rufe, but his face grew sullen, and his voice was low and harsh. +“I reckon he'll find out about that when the time comes,” he said, +quietly-too quietly, for the old mother stirred uneasily, and +significant glances went from eye to eye. Rufe did not look up from the +floor. He had been told about Rome's peculiar conduct, and, while the +reason for it was beyond guessing, he knew the temper of the boy and +how to kindle it. He had thrust a thorn in a tender spot, and he let it +rankle. How sorely it did rankle he little knew. The voice of the woman +across the river was still in Rome's ears. Nothing cuts the mountaineer +to the quick like the name of coward. It stung him like the lash of +an ox-whip then; it smarted all the way across the river and up the +mountain. Young Jasper had been charging him broadcast with cowardice, +and Jasper's people no doubt believed it. Perhaps his own did--his +uncle, his mother. The bare chance of such a humiliation set up an +inward rage. He wondered how he could ever have been such a fool as to +think of peace. The woman's gossip had swept kindly impulses from his +heart with a fresh tide of bitterness, and, helpless now against its +current, he sullenly gave way, and let his passions loose to drift with +it. + +“Whar d' ye git the guns, Rufe?” Steve was testing the action of the +Winchester with a kindling look, as the click of the locks struck softly +through the silence. + +“Jackson; 'way up in Breathitt, at the eend of the new road.” + +“No wonder y'u've been gone so long.” + +“I had to wait thar fer the guns, 'n' I had to travel atter dark comm' +back, 'n' lay out'n the bresh by day. Hit's full eighty mile up thar.” + +“Air ye shore nobody seed ye?” + +The question was from a Marcum, who had come in late, and several +laughed. Rufe threw back his dusty coat, which was ripped through the +lapel by a bullet. + +“They seed me well 'nough fer that,” he said, grimly, and then he looked +toward Rome, who thought of old Jasper, and gave back a gleam of fierce +sympathy. There were several nods of approval along with the laugh that +followed. It was a surprise--so little consideration of an escape so +narrow--from Rufe; for, as old Gabe said, Rufe was big and good-natured, +and was not thought fit for leadership. But there was a change in him +when he came back from the West. He was quieter; he laughed less No one +spoke of the difference; it was too vague; but every one felt it, and it +had an effect. His flight had made many uneasy, but his return, for that +reason, brought a stancher fealty from these; and this was evident now. +All eyes were upon him, and all tongues, even old Sam's, waited now for +his to speak. + +“Whut we've got to do, we've got to do mighty quick,” he began, at last. +“Things air changin'. I seed it over thar in Breathitt. The soldiers +'n' that scar-faced Jellico preacher hev broke up the fightin' over +thar, 'n' ef we don't watch out, they'll be a-doin' it hyeh, when we +start our leetle frolic. We hain't got no time to fool. Old Jas knows +this as well as me, 'n' thar's goin' to be mighty leetle chance fer +'em to layway 'n' pick us off from the bresh. Thar's goin' to be fa'r +fightin' fer once, thank the Lord. They bushwhacked us dunn' the war, +'n' they've laywayed us 'n' shot us to pieces ever sence; but now, ef +God A'mighty's willin', the thing's a-goin' to be settled one way or +t'other at last, I reckon.” + +He stopped a moment to think. The men's breathing could be heard, so +quiet was the room, and Rufe went on telling in detail, slowly, as if to +himself, the wrongs the Lewallens had done his people. When he came to +old Jasper his voice was low, and his manner was quieter than ever. + +“Now old Jas have got to the p'int whar he says as how nobody in this +county kin undersell him 'n' stay hyeh. Old Jas druv Bond Vickers out'n +the mount 'ins fer tryin' hit. He druv Jess Hale away; 'n' them two air +our kin.” + +The big mountaineer turned then, and knocked the ashes from his pipe. +His eyes grew a little brighter, and his nostrils spread, but with a +sweep of his arm he added, still quietly: + +“Y' all know whut he's done.” + +The gesture lighted memories of personal wrongs in every breast; he had +tossed a fire-brand among fagots, and an angry light began to burn from +the eyes that watched him. + +“Ye know, too, that he thinks he has played the same game with me; but +ye don't know, I reckon, that he had ole Jim Stover 'n' that mis'able +Eli Crump a-hidin' in the bushes to shoot me”--again he grasped the torn +lapel; “that a body warned me to git away from Hazlan; n' the night I +left home they come thar to kill me, 'n' s'arched the house, 'n' skeered +Mollie n' the leetle gal 'most to death.” + +The mountaineer's self-control was lost suddenly in a furious oath. The +men did know, but in fresh anger they leaned forward in their chairs, +and twisted about with smothered curses. The old woman had stopped +smoking, and was rocking her body to and fro. Her lips were drawn in +upon her toothless gums, and her pipe was clinched against her sunken +breast. The head of the old mountaineer was lifted, and his eyes were +open and shining fiercely. + +“I hear as how he says I'm gone fer good. Well, I have been kinder +easy-goin', hatin' to fight, but sence the day I seed Rome's dad thar +dead in his blood, I hev had jes one thing I wanted to do. Thar wasn't +no use stayin' hyeh; I seed that. Rome thar was too leetle, and they was +too many fer me. I knowed it was easier to git a new start out West, +'n' when I come back to the mount'in, hit was to do jes-whut +I'm--going--to--do--now.” He wheeled suddenly upon Rome, with one huge +hand lifted. Under it the old woman's voice rose in a sudden wail: + +“Yes; 'n' I want to see it done befoh I die. I hain't hyeh fer long, but +I hain't goin' to leave as long as ole Jas is hyeh, 'n' I want ye all to +know it. Ole Jas hev got to go fust. You hear me, Rome? I'm a-talkin' to +you; I'm a-talkin' to you. Hit's yo' time now!” + +The frenzied chant raised Rome from his chair. Rufe himself took up the +spirit of it, and his voice was above all caution. + +“Yes, Rome! They killed him, boy. They sneaked on him, 'n' shot him to +pieces from the bushes. Yes; hit's yo' time now! Look hyeh, boys!” + He reached above the fireplace and took down an old rifle--his +brother's--which the old mother had suffered no one to touch. He held +it before the fire, pointing to two crosses made near the flash-pan. +“Thar's one fer ole Jim Lewallen! Thar's one fer ole Jas! He got Jim, +but ole Jas has got him, 'n' thar's his cross thar yit! Whar's yo' gun, +Rome? Shame on ye, boy!” + +The wild-eyed old woman was before him. She had divined Rufe's purpose, +and was already at his side, with Rome's Winchester in one hand and a +clasp-knife in the other. Every man was on his feet; the door was open, +and the boy Isom was at the threshold, his eyes blazing from his white +face. Rome had strode forward. + +“Yes, boy; now's the time, right hyeh before us all!” + +The mother had the knife outstretched. Rome took it, and the scratch of +the point on the hard steel went twice through the stillness--“one more +fer the young un;” the voice was the old mother's--then twice again. + +The moon was sinking when Rome stood in the door alone. The tramp of +horses was growing fainter down the mountain. The trees were swaying in +the wind below him, and he could just see the gray cliffs on the other +shore. The morning seemed far away; it made him dizzy looking back to it +through the tumult of the day. Somewhere in the haze was the vision of +a girl's white face--white with distress for him. Her father and her +brother he had sworn to kill. He had made a cross for each, and each +cross was an oath. He closed the door; and then he gave way, and sat +down with his head in both hands. The noises in the kitchen ceased. The +fire died away, and the chill air gathered about him. When he rose, the +restless eyes of the boy were upon him from the shadows. + + + + +X + +IT was court-day in Hazlan, but so early in the morning nothing was +astir in the town that hinted of its life on such a day. But for the +ring of a blacksmith's anvil on the quiet air, and the fact that nowhere +was a church-spire visible, a stranger would have thought that the +peace of Sabbath overlay a village of God-fearing people. A burly figure +lounged in the porch of a rickety house, and yawned under a swinging +sign, the rude letters of which promised “private entertainment” for +the traveller unlucky enough to pass that way. In the one long, narrow +main street, closely flanked by log and framed houses, nothing else +human was in sight. Out from this street, and in an empty square, stood +the one brick building in the place, the court-house, brick without, +brick within; unfinished, unpencilled, unpainted; panes out of the +windows, a shutter off here and there, or swinging drunkenly on one +hinge; the door wide op en, as though there was no privacy within--a poor +structure, with the look of a good man gone shiftless and fast going +wrong. + +Soon two or three lank brown figures appeared from each direction on +foot; then a horseman or two, and by and by mountaineers came in groups, +on horse and on foot. In time the side alleys and the court-house square +were filled with horses and mules, and even steers. The mountaineers +crowded the narrow street: idling from side to side; squatting for a +bargain on the wooden sidewalks; grouping on the porch of the rickety +hotel, and on the court-house steps loitering in and out of the one +store in sight. Out in the street several stood about a horse, looking +at his teeth, holding his eyes to the sun, punching his ribs, twisting +his tail; while the phlegmatic owner sat astride the submissive beast, +and spoke short answers to rare questions. Everybody talked politics, +the crop failure, or the last fight at the seat of some private war; but +nobody spoke of a Lewallen or a Stetson unless he knew his listener's +heart, and said it in a whisper. For nobody knew when the powder would +flash, or who had taken sides, or that a careless word might not array +him with one or the other faction. + +A motley throng it was--in brown or gray homespun, with trousers +in cowhide boots, and slouched hats with brims curved according to +temperament, but with striking figures in it; the patriarch with long, +white hair, shorn even with the base of the neck, and bearded only +at the throat-a justice of the peace, and the sage of his district; a +little mountaineer with curling black hair and beard, and dark, fine +features; a grizzled giant with a head rugged enough to have been +carelessly chipped from stone; a bragging candidate claiming everybody's +notice; a square-shouldered fellow surging through the crowd like a +stranger; an open-faced, devil-may-care young gallant on fire with +moonshine; a skulking figure with brutish mouth and shifting eyes. +Indeed, every figure seemed distinct; for, living apart from his +neighbor, and troubling the law but little in small matters of dispute, +the mountaineer preserves independence, and keeps the edges of his +individuality unworn. Apparently there was not a woman in town. Those +that lived there kept housed, and the fact was significant. Still, it +was close to noon, and yet not a Stetson or a Lewallen had been seen. +The stores of Rufe and old Jasper were at the extremities of the town, +and the crowd did not move those ways. It waited in the centre, and +whetted impatience by sly trips in twos and three to stables or side +alleys for “mountain dew.” Now and then the sheriff, a little man with a +mighty voice, would appear on the courthouse steps, and summon a witness +to court, where a frightened judge gave instructions to a frightened +jury. But few went, unless called; for the interest was outside; every +man in the streets knew that a storm was nigh, and was waiting to see it +burst. + +Noon passed. A hoarse bell and a whining hound had announced dinner +in the hotel. The guests were coming again into the streets. Eyes were +brighter, faces a little more flushed, and the “moonshine” was passed +more openly. Both ways the crowd watched closely. The quiet at each end +of the street was ominous, and the delay could last but little longer. +The lookers-on themselves were getting quarrelsome. The vent must come +soon, or among them there would be trouble. + +“Thar comes Jas Lewallen!” At last. A dozen voices spoke at once. A +horseman had appeared far down the street from the Lewallen end. The +clouds broke from about the sun, and a dozen men knew the horse that +bore him; for the gray was prancing the street sidewise, and throwing +the sunlight from his flanks. Nobody followed, and the crowd was +puzzled. Young Jasper carried a Winchester across his saddle-bow, and, +swaying with the action of his horse, came on. + +“What air he about?” + +“He's a plumb idgit.” + +“He mus' be crazy.” + +“He's drunk!” + +The wonder ceased. Young Jasper was reeling. Two or three Stetsons +slipped from the crowd, and there was a galloping of hoofs the other +way. Another horseman appeared from the Lewallen end, riding hastily. +The new-comer's errand was to call Jasper back. But the young dare-devil +was close to the crowd, and was swinging a bottle over his head. + +“Come back hyeh, Jas! Come hyeh!” The new-comer was shouting afar off +while he galloped. Horses were being untethered from the side alleys. +Several more Lewallen riders came in sight. They could see the gray +shining in the sunlight amid the crowd, and the man sent after him +halted at a safe distance, gesticulating; and they, too, spurred +forward. + +“Hello, boys!” young Jasper was calling out, as he swayed from side to +side, the people everywhere giving him way. + +“Fun to-day, by ----! fun to-day! Who'll hev a drink? Hyeh's hell to the +Stetsons, whar some of 'em 'll be afore night!” + +With a swagger he lifted the bottle to his lips, and, stopping short, +let it fall untouched to the ground. He had straightened in his saddle, +and was looking up the street. With a deep curse he threw the Winchester +to his shoulder, fired, and before his yell had died on his lips horse +and rider were away like a shaft of light. The crowd melted like magic +from the street. The Stetsons, chiefly on foot, did not return the +fire, but halted up the street, as if parleying. Young Jasper joined his +party, and they, too, stood still a moment, puzzled by the irresolution +of the other side. + +“Watch out! they're gittin' round ye! Run for the court-house, ye +fools!-ye, run!” The voice came in a loud yell from somewhere down the +street, and its warning was just in time. + +A wreath of smoke came about a corner of the house far down the street, +and young Jasper yelled, and dashed up a side alley with his followers. +A moment later judge, jury, witnesses, and sheriff were flying down the +court-house steps at the point of Lewallen guns; the Lewallen horses, +led by the gray, were snorting through the streets; their riders, +barricaded in the forsaken court-house, were puffing a stream of fire +and smoke from every window of court-room below and jury-room above. + +The streets were a bedlam. The Stetsons were yelling with triumph. The +Lewallens were divided, and Rufe placed three Stetsons with Winchesters +on each side of the courthouse, and kept them firing. Rome, pale and +stern, hid his force between the square and the Lewallen store. He +was none too quick. The rest were coming on, led by old Jasper. It was +reckless, riding that way right into death; but the old man believed +young Jasper's life at stake, and the men behind asked no questions when +old Jasper led them. The horses' hoofs beat the dirt street like +the crescendo of thunder. The fierce old man's hat was gone, and his +mane-like hair was shaking in the wind. Louder-and still the Stetsons +were quiet-quiet too long. The wily old man saw the trap, and, with +a yell, whirled the column up an alley, each man flattening over his +saddle. From every window, from behind every corner and tree, smoke +belched from the mouth of a Winchester. Two horses went down; one +screamed; the other struggled to his feet, and limped away with an empty +saddle. One of the fallen men sprang into safety behind a house, and one +lay still, with his arms stretched out and his face in the dust. + +From behind barn, house, and fence the Lewallens gave back a scattering +fire; but the Stetsons crept closer, and were plainly in greater +numbers. Old Jasper was being surrounded, and he mounted again, and all, +followed by a chorus of bullets and triumphant yells, fled for a wooded +slope in the rear of the court-house. A dozen Lewallens were prisoners, +and must give up or starve. There was savage joy in the Stetson crowd, +and many-footed rumor went all ways that night. + +Despite sickness and Rome's strict order, Isom had ridden down to the +mill. Standing in the doorway, he and old Gabe saw up the river, where +the water broke into foam over the ford, a riderless gray horse plunging +across. Later it neighed at a gate under Wolf's Head, and Martha +Lewallen ran out to meet it. Across under Thunderstruck Knob that +night the old Stetson mother listened to Isom's story of the fight with +ghastly joy in her death-marked face. + + + + +XI + +ALL night the court-house was guarded and on guard. At one corner of +the square Rufe Stetson, with a few men, sat on watch in old Sam Day's +cabin--the fortress of the town, built for such a purpose, and used for +it many times before. The prisoners, too, were alert, and no Stetson +ventured into the open square, for the moon was high; an exposure +anywhere was noted instantly by the whistle of a rifle-ball, and the +mountaineer takes few risks except under stress of drink or passion. +Rome Stetson had placed pickets about the town wherever surprise was +possible. All night he patrolled the streets to keep his men in such +readiness as he could for the attack that the Lewallens would surely +make to rescue their living friends and to avenge the dead ones. + +But the triumph was too great and unexpected. Two Braytons were dead; +several more were prisoners with young Jasper in the courthouse; and +drinking began. + +As the night deepened without attack the Stetsons drank more, and grew +reckless. A dance was started. Music and “moonshine” were given to every +man who bore a Winchester. The night was broken with drunken yells, the +random discharge of fire-arms, and the mono-tone of heavy feet. The two +leaders were helpless, and the inaction of the Lewallens puzzled them. +Chafed with anxiety, they kept their eyes on the court-house or on the +thicket of gloom where their enemies lay. But the woods were as quiet +as the pall of shadows over them. Once Rome, making his rounds, saw a +figure crawling through a field of corn. It looked like Crump's, but +before he could fire the man rolled like a ball down the bushy bank +to the river. An instant later some object went swiftly past a side +street-somebody on horseback-and a picket fired an alarm. The horse +kept on, and Rome threw his rifle on a patch of moonlight, but when the +object flashed through, his finger was numbed at the trigger. In the +moonlight the horse looked gray, and the rider was seated sidewise. A +bullet from the court-house clipped his hat-brim as he ran recklessly +across the street to where Steve Marcum stood in the dark behind old +Sam's cabin. + +“Jim Hale 'll git him as he goes up the road,” said Steve, calmly--and +then with hot impatience, “Why the hell don't he shoot?” + +Rome started forward in the moonlight, and Steve caught his arm. Two +bullets hissed from the court-house, and he fell back. + +A shot sounded from the bushes far away from the road. The horse kept +on, and splashed into Troubled Fork, and Steve swore bitterly. + +“Hit hain't Jim. Hit's that mis'able Bud Vickers; he's been a-stan din' +guard out'n the bushes 'stid o' the road. That was a spy, I tell ye, 'n' +the coward let him in and let him out. They'll know now we're all drunk! +Whut's the matter?” + +Rome's mouth was half open. He looked white and sick, and Steve thought +he had been hit, but he took off his hat. “Purty close!” he said, with +a laugh, pointing at the bullet-hole through the brim. + +Steve, unsuspicious, went on: “Hit was a spy, I tell ye. Bud was afeard +to stan' in the road, 'n' I'm goin' out thar 'n' twist his damned neck. +We've got 'em, Rome! I tell ye, we've got 'em! Ef we kin git through +this night, and git the boys sober in the morning, we've got 'em shore!” + +The night did pass in safety, darkness wore away without attack, and +morning broke on the town in its drunken stupor. Then the curious +silence of the Lewallens was explained. The rumor came that old Jasper +was dead, and it went broadcast. Later, friends coming to the edge of +the town for the bodies of the dead Lewallens confirmed it. A random +ball had passed through old Lewallen's body in the wild flight for the +woods, and during the night he had spent his last breath in a curse +against the man who fired it. + +Then each Stetson, waked from his drunken sleep, drank again when he +heard of the death. The day bade fair to be like the night, and again +the anxiety of the leaders was edged with fear. Old Jasper dead and +young Jasper a prisoner, the chance was near to end the feud, or there +would be no Lewallen left to lead their enemies. But, again, they were +well-nigh helpless. Already they had barely enough men to guard their +prisoners. Of the Marcums, Steve alone was able to handle a Winchester, +and outside the sounds of the carousal were in the air and growing +louder. In a little while, if the Lewallens but knew it, escape would be +easy and the Stetsons could be driven from the town. + +“Oh, they know it,” said Steve. “They'll be a-whoopin' down out O' them +woods purty soon, 'n' we re goin to ketch hell. I'd like to know mighty +well who that spy was last night. That cussed Bud Vickers says it was a +ha'nt, on a white hoss, with long hair flyin' in the wind, 'n' that he +shot plumb through it. I jus' wish I'd a had a chance at it.” + +Still, noon came again without trouble, and the imprisoned Lewallens +had been twenty-four hours without food. Their ammunition was getting +scarce. The firing was less frequent, though the watch was as close as +ever, and twice a Winchester had sounded a signal of distress. All knew +that a response must come soon; and come it did. A picket, watching the +river road, saw young Jasper's horse coming along the dark bushes far up +the river, and brought the news to the group standing behind old Sam's +cabin. The gray galloped into sight, and, skirting the woods, came +straight for the town-with a woman on his back. The stirrup of a man's +saddle dangled on one side, and the woman's bonnet had fallen from her +head. Some one challenged her. + +“Stop, I tell ye! Don't ye go near that courthouse! Stop, I tell ye! I'll +shoot! Stop!” + +Rome ran from the cabin with a revolver in each hand. A drunken +mountaineer was raising a Winchester to his shoulder, and, springing +from the back of the gray at the court-house steps, was Martha Lewallen. + +“I'll kill the fust man that lifts his finger to hurt the gal,” Rome +said, knocking the drunken man's gun in the air. “We hain't fightin' +women!” + +It was too late to oppose her, and the crowd stood helplessly watching. +No one dared approach, so, shielding with her body the space of the +opening door, she threw the sack of food within. Then she stood a moment +talking and, turning, climbed to her saddle. The gray was spotted with +foam, and showed the red of his nostrils with every breath as, with face +flushed and eyes straight before her, she rode slowly toward the crowd. +What was she about? Rome stood rigid, his forgotten pistols hanging at +each side; the mouth of the drunken mountaineer was open with stupid +wonder; the rest fell apart as she came around the corner of the cabin +and, through the space given, rode slowly, her skirt almost brushing +Rome, looking neither to the right nor to the left; and when she had +gone quite through them all, she wheeled and rode, still slowly, through +the open fields toward the woods which sheltered the Lewallens, while +the crowd stood in bewildered silence looking after her. Yells of +laughter came from the old court-house. Some of the Stetsons laughed, +too; some swore, a few grumbled; but there was not one who was not +stirred by the superb daring of the girl, though she had used it only to +show her contempt. + +“Rome, you're a fool; though, fer a fac', we can't shoot a woman; 'n' +anyways I ruther shoot her than the hoss. But lemme tell ye, thar was +more'n sump'n to eat in that bag! They air up to some dodge.” + +Rufe Stetson had watched the incident through a port-hole of the cabin, +and his tone was at once jesting and anxious. + +“That grub won't last more'n one day, I reckon,” said the drunken +mountaineer. “We'll watch out fer the gal nex' time. We're boun' to git +'em one time or t'other.” + +“She rid through us to find out how many of us wasn't dead drunk,” said +Steve Marcum, still watching the girl as she rode on, toward the woods; +“'n' I'm a-thinkin' they'll be down on us purty soon now, 'n' I reckon +we'll have to run fer it. Look thar boys!” + +The girl had stopped at the edge of the woods; facing the town, she +waved her bonnet high above her head. + +“Well, whut in the--!” he said, with slow emphasis, and then he leaped +from the door with a yell. The bonnet was a signal to the beleaguered +Lewallens. The rear door of the courthouse had been quietly opened, and +the prisoners were out in a body and scrambling over the fence before +the pickets could give an alarm. The sudden yells, the crack of +Winchesters, startled even the revellers and all who could, headed by +Rome and Steve Marcum, sprang into the square, and started in pursuit. +But the Lewallens had got far ahead, and were running in zigzag lines to +dodge the balls flying after them. Half-way to the woods was a gully +of red clay, and into this the fleetest leaped, and turned instantly to +cover their comrades. The Winchesters began to rattle from the woods, +and the bullets came like rain from everywhere. + +“T-h-up! T-h-up! T-h-up!” there were three of them--the peculiar soft, +dull messages of hot lead to living flesh. A Stetson went down; another +stumbled; Rufe Stetson, climbing the fence, caught at his breast with +an oath, and fell back. Rome and Steve dropped for safety to the ground. +Every other Stetson turned in a panic, and every Lewallen in the gully +leaped from it, and ran under the Lewallen fire for shelter in the +woods. The escape was over. + +“That was a purty neat trick,” said Steve, wiping a red streak from his +cheek. “Nex' time she tries that, she'll git herself into trouble.” + +At nightfall the wounded leader and the dead one were carried up the +mountain, each to his home; and there was mourning far into the night +on one bank of the Cumberland, and, serious though Rufe Stetson's wound +was, exultation on the other. But in it Rome could take but little part. +There had been no fault to find with him in the fight. But a reaction +had set in when he saw the girl flash in the moonlight past the sights +of his Winchester, and her face that day had again loosed within him a +flood of feeling that drove the lust for revenge from his veins. Even +now, while he sat in his own cabin, his 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 descent 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; for 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 +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 the northern 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 and gold +of new leaves and sunlight; and higher still waved the poplar blooms, +with honey ready on every crimson heart for the bees. Down in the valley +Rome Stetson could see about every little cabin pink clouds and +white clouds of peach and of apple blossoms. Amid the ferns about him +shade-loving trilliums showed their many-hued faces, and every opening +was thickly peopled with larkspur seeking the sun. The giant magnolia +and the umbrella-tree spread their great creamy flowers; the laurel +shook out myriads of pink and white bells, and the queen of mountain +flowers was stirring from sleep in the buds of the rhododendron. + +With the spring new forces pulsed the mountain air. The spirit of the +times reached even Hazlan. A railroad was coming up the river, so the +rumor was. When winter broke, surveyors had appeared; after them, mining +experts and purchasers of land. New ways of bread-making were open to +all, and the feudsman began to see that he could make food and clothes +more easily and with less danger than by sleeping with his rifle in the +woods, and by fighting men who had done him no harm. Many were tired of +fighting; many, forced into the feud, had fought unwillingly. Others had +sold their farms and wild lands, and were moving toward the Blue Grass +or westward. The desperadoes of each faction had fled the law or were +in its clutches. The last Lewallen was dead; the last Stetson was hidden +away in the mountains. There were left Mareums and Braytons, but only +those who felt safest from indictment; in these a spirit of hostility +would live for years, and, roused by passion or by drink, would do +murder now on one side of the Cumberland and now on the other; but the +Stetson-Lewallen feud, old Gabe believed, was at an end at last. + +All these things the miller told Rome Stetson, who well knew what they +meant. He was safe enough from the law while the people took no part +in his capture, but he grew apprehensive when he learned of the changes +going on in the valley. None but old Gabe knew where he was, to be sure, +but with his own enemies to guide the soldiers he could not hope +to remain hidden long. Still, with that love of the mountains +characteristic of all races born among them, he clung to his own land. +He would rather stay where he was the space of a year and die, he told +old Gabe passionately, than live to old age in another State. + +But there was another motive, and he did not hide it. On the other side +he had one enemy left--the last, too, of her race--who was more to him +than his own dead kindred, who hated him, who placed at his door all her +sorrows. For her he was living like a wolf in a cave, and old Gabe knew +it. Her he would not leave. + +“I tell ye, Rome, you've got to go. Thar's no use talkin'. Court comes +the fust Monday in June. The soldiers ull be hyeh. Hit won't be safe. +Thar's some that s'picions I know whar ye air now, 'n' they'll be +spyin', 'n' mebbe hit'll git me into trouble, too, aidin' 'n' abettin' a +man to git away who air boun' to the law.” + +The two were sitting on the earthen floor of the cave before a little +fire, and Rome, with his hands about his knees and his brows knitted, +was staring into the yellow blaze. His unshorn hair fell to his +shoulders; his face was pale from insufficient food and exercise, and +tense with a look that was at once caged and defiant. + +“Uncle Gabe,” he asked, quietly, for the old man's tone was a little +querulous, “air ye sorry ye holped me? Do ye blame me fer whut I've +done?” + +“No,” said the old miller, answering both questions; “I don't. I believe +whut ye tol' me. Though, even ef ye had 'a' done it, I don't know as I'd +blame ye, seem' that it was a fa'r fight. I don't doubt he was doin' his +best to kill you.” + +Rome turned quickly, his face puzzled and darkening. + +“Uncle Gabe, whut air you drivin' at?” The old man spat into the fire, +and shifted his position uneasily, as Rome's hand caught his knee. + +“Well, ef I have to tell ye, I s'pose I must. Thar's been nothin' +pertickler ag'in ye so fer, 'cept fer breakin' that confederatin' +statute 'bout bandin' fightin' men together; 'n' nobody was very anxious +to git hol' o' ye jes fer that, but now”--the old man stopped a moment, +for Rome's eyes were kindling--“they say that ye killed Jas Lew allen, +'n' that ye air a murderer; 'n' hit air powerful strange how all of +a suddint folks seem to be gittin' down on a man as kills his +fellow-creetur; 'n' now they means to hunt ye til they ketch ye.” + +It was all out now, and the old man was relieved. Rome rose to his feet, +and in sheer agony of spirit paced the floor. + +“I tol' ye, Uncle Gabe, that I didn't kill him.” + +“So ye did, 'n' I believe ye. But a feller seed you 'n' Steve comm' +from the place whar Jas was found dead, 'n' whar the dirt 'n' rock was +throwed about as by two bucks in spring-time. Steve says he didn't +do it, 'n' he wouldn't say you didn't. Looks to me like Steve did the +killn', 'n' was lyin' a leetle. He hain't goin' to confess hit to +save your neck; 'n' he can't no way, fer he hev lit out o' these +mount'ins--long ago.” + +If Steve was out of danger, suspicion could not harm him, and Rome said +nothing. + +“Isom's got the lingerin' fever ag'in, 'n' he's outin his head. He's +ravin' 'bout that fight. Looks like ye tol' him 'bout it. He says,' +Don't tell Uncle Gabe'; 'n' he keeps sayin' it. Hit'll 'most kill him +ef you go 'way; but he wants ye to git out o' the mount'ins; 'n', Rome, +you've got to go.” + +“Who was it, Uncle Gabe, that seed me 'n' Steve comm' 'way from thar?” + +“He air the same feller who hev been spyin' ye all the time this war's +been goin' on; hit's that dried-faced, snaky Eli Crump, who ye knocked +down 'n' choked up in Hazlan one day fer sayin' something ag'in Isom.” + +“I knowed it--I knowed it--oh, ef I could git my fingers roun' his throat +once more--jes once more--I'd be 'mos' ready to die.” + +He stretched out his hands as he strode back and forth, with his fingers +crooked like talons; his shadow leaped from wall to wall, and his voice, +filling the cave, was, for the moment, scarcely human. The old man +waited till the paroxysm was over and Rome had again sunk before the +fire. + +“Hit 'u'd do no good, Rome,” he said, rising to go. “You've got enough +on ye now, without the sin o' takin' his life. You better make up yer +mind to leave the mountins now right 'way. You're a-gittin' no more'n +half-human, livin' up hyeh like a catamount. I don't see how ye kin +stand it. Thar's no hope o' things blowin' over, boy, 'n' givin' ye a +chance o' comm' out ag'in, as yer dad and yer grandad usen to do afore +ye. The citizens air gittin' tired o' these wars. They keeps out the +furriners who makes roads 'n' buys lands; they air ag'in' the law, +ag'in' religion, ag'in' yo' pocket, 'n' ag'in' mine. Lots o' folks hev +been ag'in' all this fightin' fer a long time, but they was too skeery +to say so. They air talkin' mighty big now, seem' they kin git soldiers +hyeh to pertect 'em. So ye mought as well give up the idea o' staying +hyeh, 'less'n ye want to give yourself up to the law.” + +The two stepped from the cave, and passed through the rhododendrons till +they stood on the cliff overlooking the valley. The rich light lay like +a golden mist between the mountains, and through it, far down, the river +moaned like the wind of a coming storm. + +“Did ye tell the gal whut I tol' ye?” + +“Yes, Rome; hit wasn't no use. She says Steve's word's as good as yourn; +'n' she knowed about the crosses. Folks say she swore awful ag'in' ye +at young Jas's burial, 'lowin' that she'd hunt ye down herse'f, ef the +soldiers didn't ketch ye. I hain't seed her sence she got sick; 'pears +like ever'body's sick. Mebbe she's a leetle settled down now--no tellin'. +No use foolin' with her, Rome. You git away from hyeh. Don't you worry +'bout Isom--I'll take keer o' him, 'n' when he gits well, he'll want to +come atter ye, 'n' I'll let him go. He couldn't live hyeh without you. +But y'u must git away, Rome, 'n' git away mighty quick.” + +With hands clasped behind him, Rome stood and watched the bent figure +slowly pick its way around the stony cliff. + +“I reckon I've got to go. She's ag'in' me; they're all ag'in' me. I +reckon I've jes got to go. Somehow, I've been kinder hopin'--” He closed +his lips to check the groan that rose to them, and turned again into the +gloom behind him. + + + + +XIV + +JUNE came. The wild rose swayed above its image along every little +shadowed stream, and the scent of wild grapes was sweet in the air and +as vagrant as a bluebird's note in autumn. The rhododendrons burst into +beauty, making gray ridge and gray cliff blossom with purple, hedging +streams with snowy clusters and shining leaves, and lighting up +dark coverts in the woods as with white stars. The leaves were full, +woodthrushes sang, and bees droned like unseen running water in the +woods. + +With June came circuit court once more-and the soldiers. Faint music +pierced the dreamy chant of the river one morning as Rome lay on a +bowlder in the summer sun; and he watched the guns flashing like another +stream along the water, and then looked again to the Lewallen cabin. +Never, morning, noon, or night, when he came from the rhododendrons, or +when they closed about him, did he fail to turn his eyes that way. Often +he would see a bright speck moving about the dim lines of the cabin, +and he would scarcely breathe while he watched it, so easily would it +disappear. Always he had thought it was Martha, and now he knew it was, +for the old miller had told him more of the girl, and had wrung his +heart with pity. She had been ill a long while. The “furriners” had +seized old Jasper's cabin and land. The girl was homeless, and she did +not know it, for no one had the heart to tell her. She was living +with the Braytons; and every day she went to the cabin, “moonin'n' +sorrowin' aroun',” as old Gabe said; and she was much changed. + +Once more the miller came-for the last time, he said, firmly. Crump had +trailed him, and had learned where Rome was. The search would begin next +day-perhaps that very night-and Crump would guide the soldiers. Now he +must go, and go quickly. The boy, too, sent word that unless Rome went, +he would have something to tell. Old Gabe saw no significance in the +message; but he had promised to deliver it, and he did. Rome wavered +then; Steve and himself gone, no suspicion would fall on the lad. If he +were caught, the boy might confess. With silence Rome gave assent, and +the two parted in an apathy that was like heartlessness. Only old Gabe's +shrunken breast heaved with something more than weariness of descent, +and Rome stood watching him a long time before he turned back to the +cave that had sheltered him from his enemies among beasts and men. In +a moment he came out for the last time, and turned the opposite way. +Climbing about the spur, he made for the path that led down to the +river. When he reached it he glanced at the sun, and stopped in +indecision. Straight above him was a knoll, massed with rhododendrons, +the flashing leaves of which made it like a great sea-wave in the +slanting sun, while the blooms broke slowly down over it like foam. +Above this was a gray sepulchre of dead, standing trees, more gaunt and +spectre-like than ever, with the rich life of summer about it. Higher +still were a dark belt of stunted firs and the sandstone ledge, and +above these-home. He was risking his liberty, his life. Any clump of +bushes might bristle suddenly with Winchesters. If the soldiers sought +for him at the cave they would at the same time guard the mountain +paths; they would guard, too, the Stetson cabin. But no matter-the sun +was still high, and he turned up the steep. The ledge passed, he stopped +with a curse at his lips and the pain of a knife-thrust at his heart. +A heap of blackened stones and ashes was before him. The wild +mountain-grass was growing up about it. The bee-gums were overturned and +rifled. The garden was a tangled mass of weeds. The graves in the little +family burying-ground were unprotected, the fence was gone, and no +boards marked the last two ragged mounds. Old Gabe had never told him. +He, too, like Martha, was homeless, and the old miller had been kind to +him, as the girl's kinspeople had been to her. + +For a long while he sat on the remnant of the burned and broken fence, +and once more the old tide of bitterness rose within him and ebbed away. +There were none left to hate, to wreak vengeance on. It was hard to +leave the ruins as they were; and yet he would rather leave weeds and +ashes than, like Martha, have some day to know that his home was in the +hands of a stranger. When he thought of the girl he grew calmer; his own +sorrows gave way to the thought of hers; and half from habit he raised +his face to look across the river. Two eagles swept from a dark ravine +under the shelf of rock where he had fought young Jasper, and made for +a sun-lighted peak on the other shore. From them his gaze fell to Wolf's +Head and to the cabin beneath, and a name passed his lips in a whisper. + +Then he took the path to the river, and he found the canoe where old +Gabe had hidden it. Before the young moon rose he pushed into the stream +and drifted with the current. At the mouth of the creek that ran over +old Gabe's water-wheel he turned the prow to the Lewallen shore. + +“Not yit! Not yit!” he said. + + + + +XV + +THAT night Rome passed in the woods, with his rifle, in a bed of +leaves. Before daybreak he had built a fire in a deep ravine to cook his +breakfast, and had scattered the embers that the smoke should give no +sign. The sun was high when he crept cautiously in sight of the Lewallen +cabin. It was much like his own home on the other shore, except that the +house, closed and desolate, was standing, and the bees were busy. At the +corner of the kitchen a rusty axe was sticking in a half-cut piece of +timber, and on the porch was a heap of kindling and fire wood-the last +work old Jasper and his son had ever done. In the Lewallens' garden, +also, two graves were fresh; and the spirit of neglect and ruin overhung +the place. + +All the morning he waited in the edge of the laurel, peering down the +path, watching the clouds race with their shadows over the mountains, or +pacing to and fro in his covert of leaves and flowers. He began to fear +at last that she was not coming, that she was ill, and once he started +down the mountain toward Steve Brayton's cabin. The swift descent +brought him to his senses, and he stopped half-way, and climbed back +again to his hiding-place. What he was doing, what he meant to do, he +hardly knew. Mid-day passed; the sun fell toward the mountains, and once +more came the fierce impulse to see her, even though he must stalk into +the Brayton cabin. Again, half-crazed, he started impetuously through +the brush, and shrank back, and stood quiet. A little noise down the +path had reached his ear. In a moment he could hear slow foot-falls, and +the figure of the girl parted the pink-and-white laurel blossoms, which +fell in a shower about her when she brushed through them. She passed +quite near him, walking slowly, and stopped for a moment to rest against +a pillar of the porch. She was very pale; her face was traced deep with +suffering, and she was, as old Gabe said, much changed. Then she went +on toward the garden, stepping with an effort over the low fence, and +leaned as if weak and tired against the apple-tree, the boughs of which +shaded the two graves at her feet. For a few moments she stood there, +listless, and Rome watched her with hungry eyes, at a loss what to do. +She moved presently, and walked quite around the graves without looking +at them; then came back past him, and, seating herself in the porch, +turned her face to the river. The sun lighted her hair, and in the +sunken, upturned eyes Rome saw the shimmer of tears. + +“Marthy!” He couldn't help it--the thick, low cry broke like a groan +from his lips, and the girl was on her feet, facing him. She did not +know the voice, nor the shaggy, half-wild figure in the shade of the +laurel; and she started back as if to run; but seeing that the man did +not mean to harm her, she stopped, looking for a moment with wonder and +even with quick pity at the hunted face with its white appeal. Then a +sudden spasm caught her throat, and left her body rigid, her hands shut, +and her eyes dry and hard--she knew him. A slow pallor drove the flush of +surprise from her face, and her lips moved once, but there was not even +a whisper from them. Rome raised one hand before his face, as though to +ward off something. “Don't look at me that way, Marthy--my God, don't! I +didn't kill him. I sw'ar it! I give him a chance fer his life. I know, +I know--Steve says he didn't. Thar was only us two. Hit looks ag'in' +me; but I hain't killed one nur t'other. I let 'em both go. Y'u don't +believe me?” He went swiftly toward her, his gun outstretched. “Hyeh, +gal! I heerd ye swore ag' in' me out thar in the gyarden--'lowin' that +you was goin' to hunt me down yerself if the soldiers didn't. Hyeh's yer +chance!” + +The girl shrank away from him, too startled to take the weapon; and he +leaned it against her, and stood away, with his hands behind him. + +“Kill me ef ye think I'm a-lyin' to ye,” he said. “Y'u kin git even with +me now. But I want to tell ye fust”--the girl had caught the muzzle of +the gun convulsively, and was bending over it, her eyes burning, her +face inscrutable--“hit was a fa'r fight betwixt us, 'n' I whooped him. He +got his gun then, 'n' would 'a' killed me ag'in' his oath ef he hadn't +been shot fust. Hit's so, too, 'bout the crosses. I made 'em; they're +right thar on that gun; but whut could I do with mam a-standin' right +thar with the gun 'n' Uncle Rufe a-tellin' 'bout my own dad layin' in +his blood, 'n' Isom 'n' the boys lookin' on! But I went ag'in' my oath; +I gave him his life when I had the right to take it. I could 'a' killed +yer dad once, 'n' I had the right to kill him, too, fer killin' mine; +but I let him go, 'n' I reckon I done that fer ye, too. 'Pears like I +hain't done nothin' sence I seed ye over thar in the mill that day that +wasn't done fer ye. Somehow ye put me dead ag'in' my own kin, 'n' tuk +away all my hate ag'in' yourn. I couldn't fight fer thinkin' I was +fightin' you, 'n' when I seed ye comm' through the bushes jes now, so +white 'n' sickly-like, I couldn't hardly git breath, a-thinkin' I was +the cause of all yer misery. That's all!” He stretched out his arms. +“Shoot, gal, ef ye don't believe me. I'd jes as lieve die, ef ye thinks +I'm lyin' to ye, 'n' ef ye hates me fer whut I hain't done.” + +The gun had fallen to the earth. The girl, trembling at the knees, sank +to her seat on the porch, and, folding her arms against the pillar, +pressed her forehead against them, her face unseen. Rome stooped to pick +up the weapon. + +“I'm goin' 'way now,” he went on, slowly, after a little pause, “but I +couldn't leave hyeh without seem' you. I wanted ye to know the truth, +'n' I 'lowed y'u'd believe me ef I tol' ye myself. I've been a-waitin' +thar in the lorrel fer ye sence mornin'. Uncle Gabe tol' me ye come hyeh +ever' day. He says I've got to go. I've been hopin' I mought come out o' +the bushes some day. But Uncle Gabe says ever'body's ag'in' me more' n +ever, 'n' that the soldiers mean to ketch me. The gov'ner out thar in +the settlements says as how he'll give five hundred dollars fer me, +livin' or dead. He'll nuver git me livin'--I've swore that--'n' as I hev +done nothin' sech as folks on both sides hev done who air walkin' +roun' free, I hain't goin' to give up. Hit's purty hard to leave these +mount'ins. Reckon I'll nuver see 'em ag'in. Been livin' like a catamount +over thar on the knob. I could jes see you over hyeh, 'n' I reckon +I hain't done much 'cept lay over thar on a rock 'n' watch ye movin' +round. Hit's mighty good to feel that ye believe me, 'n' I want ye to +know that I been stayin' over thar fer nothin' on earth but jes to see +you ag'in; 'n' I want ye to know that I was a-sorrowin' fer ye when +y'u was sick, 'n' a-pinin' to see ye, 'n' a-hopin' some day y'u +mought kinder git over yer hate fer me.” He had been talking with low +tenderness, half to himself, and with his face to the river, and he did +not see the girl's tears falling to the porch. Her sorrow gave way in +a great sob now, and he turned with sharp remorse, and stood quite near +her. + +“Don't cry, Marthy,” he said. “God knows hit's hard to think I've +brought all this on ye when I'd give all these mount'ins to save ye +from it. Whut d' ye say? Don't cry.” + +The girl was trying to speak at last, and Rome bent over to catch the +words. + +“I hain't cryin' fer myself,” she said, faintly, and then she said no +more; but the first smile that had passed over Rome's face for many a +day passed then, and he put out one big hand, and let it rest on the +heap of lustrous hair. + +“Marthy, I hate to go 'way, leavin' ye hyeh with nobody to take keer o' +ye. You're all alone hyeh in the mount'ins; I'm all alone; 'n' I reckon +I'll be all alone wharever I go, ef you stay hyeh. I got a boat down +thar on the river, 'n' I'm goin' out West whar Uncle Rufe use to live. I +know I hain't good fer nothin' much”--he spoke almost huskily; he could +scarcely get the words to his lips--“but I want ye to go with me. Won't +ye?” + +The girl did not answer, but her sobbing ceased slowly, while Rome +stroked her hair; and at last she lifted her face, and for a moment +looked to the other shore. Then she rose. There is a strange pride in +the Kentucky mountaineer. + +“As you say, Rome, thar's nobody left but you, 'n' nobody but me; but +they burned you out, we hain't even--yit.” Her eyes were on Thunderstruck +Knob, where the last sunlight used to touch the Stetson cabin. + +“Hyeh, Rome!” He knew what she meant, and he kneeled at the pile of +kindling-wood near the kitchen door. Then they stood back and waited. +The sun dipped below a gap in the mountains, the sky darkened, and the +flames rose to the shingled porch, and leaped into the gathering dusk. +On the outer edge of the quivering light, where it touched the blossomed +laurel, the two stood till the blaze caught the eaves of the cabin; and +then they turned their faces where, burning to ashes in the west, was +another fire, whose light blended in the eyes of each with a light older +and more lasting than its own--the light eternal. + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox, Jr. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA *** + +***** This file should be named 3022-0.txt or 3022-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/2/3022/ + +Produced by David Reed + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/3022-0.zip b/3022-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c790b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/3022-0.zip diff --git a/3022-h.zip b/3022-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3edccb --- /dev/null +++ b/3022-h.zip diff --git a/3022-h/3022-h.htm b/3022-h/3022-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd754df --- /dev/null +++ b/3022-h/3022-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3316 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox Jr. + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox, Jr. + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Cumberland Vendetta + +Author: John Fox, Jr. + +Release Date: October 9, 2009 [EBook #3022] +Last Updated: March 14, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA *** + + + + +Produced by David Reed, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By John Fox Jr. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + TO MINERVA AND ELIZABETH + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> XI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> XII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> XIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> XIV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> XV </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + THE cave had been their hiding-place as children; it was a secret refuge + now against hunger or darkness when they were hunting in the woods. The + primitive meal was finished; ashes were raked over the red coals; the + slice of bacon and the little bag of meal were hung high against the rock + wall; and the two stepped from the cavern into a thicket of rhododendrons. + </p> + <p> + Parting the bushes toward the dim light, they stood on a massive shoulder + of the mountain, the river girding it far below, and the afternoon shadows + at their feet. Both carried guns--the tall mountaineer, a Winchester; the + boy, a squirrel rifle longer than himself. Climbing about the rocky spur, + they kept the same level over log and bowlder and through bushy ravine to + the north. In half an hour, they ran into a path that led up home from the + river, and they stopped to rest on a cliff that sank in a solid black wall + straight under them. The sharp edge of a steep corn-field ran near, and, + stripped of blade and tassel, the stalks and hooded ears looked in the + coming dusk a little like monks at prayer. In the sunlight across the + river the corn stood thin and frail. Over there a drought was on it; and + when drifting thistle-plumes marked the noontide of the year, each yellow + stalk had withered blades and an empty sheath. Everywhere a look of vague + trouble lay upon the face of the mountains, and when the wind blew, the + silver of the leaves showed ashen. Autumn was at hand. + </p> + <p> + There was no physical sign of kinship between the two, half-brothers + though they were. The tall one was dark; the boy, a foundling, had flaxen + hair, and was stunted and slender. He was a dreamy-looking little fellow, + and one may easily find his like throughout the Cumberland-paler than his + fellows, from staying much indoors, with half-haunted face, and eyes that + are deeply pathetic when not cunning; ignorantly credited with idiocy and + uncanny powers; treated with much forbearance, some awe, and a little + contempt; and suffered to do his pleasure-nothing, or much that is + strange-without comment. + </p> + <p> + “I tell ye, Rome,” he said, taking up the thread of talk that was broken + at the cave, “when Uncle Gabe says he's afeard thar's trouble comm', hit's + a-comm'; 'n' I want you to git me a Winchester. I'm a-gittin' big enough + now. I kin shoot might' nigh as good as you, 'n' whut am I fit fer with + this hyeh old pawpaw pop-gun?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't want you fightin', boy, I've told ye. Y'u air too little 'n' + puny, 'n' I want ye to stay home 'n' take keer o' mam 'n' the cattle-ef + fightin' does come, I reckon thar won't be triuch.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't ye?” cried the boy, with sharp contempt—“with ole Jas + Lewallen a-devilin' Uncle Rufe, 'n' that blackheaded young Jas a-climbin' + on stumps over thar 'cross the river, n' crowin' n' sayin' out open in + Hazlan that ye air afeard o him? Yes; 'n' he called me a idgit.” The boy's + voice broke into a whimper of rage. + </p> + <p> + “Shet up, Isom! Don't you go gittin' mad now. You'll be sick ag'in. I'll + tend to him when the time comes.” Rome spoke with rough kindness, but ugly + lines had gathered at his mouth and forehead. The boy's tears came and + went easily. He drew his sleeve across his eyes, and looked up the river. + Beyond the bend, three huge birds rose into the sunlight and floated + toward them. Close at hand, they swerved side-wise. + </p> + <p> + “They hain't buzzards,” he said, standing up, his anger gone; “look at + them straight wings!” + </p> + <p> + Again the eagles swerved, and two shot across the river. The third dropped + with shut wings to the bare crest of a gaunt old poplar under them. + </p> + <p> + “Hit's a young un, Romey,” said the boy, excitedly. “He's goin' to wait + thar tell the old uns come back. Gimme that gun!” + </p> + <p> + Catching up the Winchester, he slipped over the ledge; and Rome leaned + suddenly forward, looking down at the river. + </p> + <p> + A group of horsemen had ridden around the bend, and were coming at a walk + down the other shore. Every man carried something across his saddle-bow. + There was a gray horse among them—young Jasper's—and an evil + shadow came into Rome's face, and quickly passed. Near a strip of woods + the gray turned up the mountain from the party, and on its back he saw the + red glint of a woman's dress. With a half-smile he watched the scarlet + figure ride from the woods, and climb slowly up through the sunny corn. On + the spur above and full in the rich yellow light, she halted, half turning + in her saddle. He rose to his feet, to his full height, his head bare, and + thrown far back between his big shoulders, and, still as statues, the man + and the woman looked at each other across the gulf of darkening air. A + full minute the woman sat motionless, then rode on. At the edge of the + woods she stopped and turned again. + </p> + <p> + The eagle under Rome leaped one stroke in the air, and dropped like a clod + into the sea of leaves. The report of the gun and a faint cry of triumph + rose from below. It was good marksmanship, but on the cliff Rome did not + heed it. Something had fluttered in the air above the girl's head, and he + laughed aloud. She was waving her bonnet at him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + JUST where young Stetson stood, the mountains racing along each bank of + the Cumberland had sent out against each other, by mutual impulse, two + great spurs. At the river's brink they stopped sheer, with crests + uplifted, as though some hand at the last moment had hurled them apart, + and had led the water through the breach to keep them at peace. To-day the + crags looked seamed by thwarted passion; and, sullen with firs, they made + fit symbols of the human hate about the base of each. + </p> + <p> + When the feud began, no one knew. Even the original cause was forgotten. + Both families had come as friends from Virginia long ago, and had lived as + enemies nearly half a century. There was hostility before the war, but, + until then, little bloodshed. Through the hatred of change, characteristic + of the mountaineer the world over, the Lewallens were for the Union. The + Stetsons owned a few slaves, and they fought for them. Peace found both + still neighbors and worse foes. The war armed them, and brought back an + ancestral contempt for human life; it left them a heritage of lawlessness + that for mutual protection made necessary the very means used by their + feudal forefathers; personal hatred supplanted its dead issues, and with + them the war went on. The Stetsons had a good strain of Anglo-Saxon blood, + and owned valley-lands; the Lewallens kept store and made “moonshine”; so + kindred and debtors and kindred and tenants were arrayed with one or the + other leader, and gradually the retainers of both settled on one or the + other side of the river. In time of hostility the Cumberland came to be + the boundary between life and death for the dwellers on each shore. It was + feudalism born again. + </p> + <p> + Above one of the spurs each family had its home; the Stetsons, under the + seared face of Thunderstruck Knob; the Lewallens, just beneath the wooded + rim of Wolf's Head. The eaves and chimney of each cabin were faintly + visible from the porch of the other. The first light touched the house of + the Stetsons; the last, the Lewallen cabin. So there were times when the + one could not turn to the sunrise nor the other to the sunset but with a + curse in his heart, for his eye must fall on the home of his enemy. + </p> + <p> + For years there had been peace. The death of Rome Stetson's father from + ambush, and the fight in the court-house square, had forced it. After that + fight only four were left-old Jasper Lewallen and young Jasper, the boy + Rome and his uncle, Rufe Stetson. Then Rufe fled to the West, and the + Stetsons were helpless. For three years no word was heard of him, but the + hatred burned in the heart of Rome's mother, and was traced deep in her + grim old face while she patiently waited the day of retribution. It + smouldered, too, in the hearts of the women of both clans who had lost + husbands or sons or lovers; and the friends and kin of each had little to + do with one another, and met and passed with watchful eyes. Indeed, it + would take so little to turn peace to war that the wonder was that peace + had lived so long. Now trouble was at hand. Rufe Stetson had come back at + last, a few 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 battle-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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “Any news in town?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Whut d'ye hear?” asked Gabe. “Jes heerd fightin' 's goin' on!” + </p> + <p> + 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 open the war, and they believed Rufe had gone for arms. + So they had chafed in the store all day, and all day Lewallens on + horseback and on foot were in sight; and each was a taunt to every + Stetson, and, few as they were, the young and hot-headed wanted to go out + and fight. In the afternoon a tale-bearer had brought some of Jasper's + boasts to Rome, and, made reckless by moonshine and much brooding, he + sprang up to lead them. Steve Marcum, too, caught up his gun, but old + Sam's counsel checked him, and the two by force held Rome back. A little + later the Lewallens left town. The Stetsons, too, disbanded, and on the + way home a last drop of gall ran Rome's cup of bitterness over. Opposite + Steve Brayton's cabin a jet of smoke puffed from the bushes across the + river, and a bullet furrowed the road in front of him. That was the shot + they had heard at the mill. Somebody was drawing a dead-line, and Rome + wheeled his horse at the brink of it. A mocking yell came over the river, + and a gray horse flashed past an open space in the bushes. Rome knew the + horse and knew the yell; young Jasper was “bantering” him. Nothing maddens + the mountaineer like this childish method of insult; and telling of it, + Rome sat in a corner, and loosed a torrent of curses against young + Lewallen and his clan. + </p> + <p> + Old Gabe had listened without a word, and the strain in his face was + eased. Always the old man had stood for peace. He believed it had come + after the court-house fight, and he had hoped against hope, even when Rufe + came back to trade against old Jasper; for Rufe was big and good-natured, + and unsuspected of resolute purpose, and the Lewallens' power had + weakened. So, now that Rufe was gone again, the old miller half believed + he was gone for good. Nobody was hurt; there was a chance yet for peace, + and with a rebuke on his tongue and relief in his face, the old man sat + back in his chair and went on whittling. The boy turned eagerly to a + crevice in the logs and, trembling with excitement, searched the other + bank for Jasper's gray horse, going home. + </p> + <p> + “He called me a idgit,” he said to himself, with a threatening shake of + his head. “Jes wouldn't I like to hev a chance at him! Rome ull git him! + Rome ull git him!” + </p> + <p> + There was no moving point of white on the broad face of the mountains nor + along the river road. Jasper was yet to come and, with ears alert to every + word behind him, the lad fixed his eyes where he should see him first. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he didn't mean to hit me. Not that he ain't mean enough to shoot from + the bresh,” Rome broke out savagely. “That's jes whut I'm afeard he will + do. Thar was too much daylight fer him. Ef he jes don't come a-sneakin' + over hyeh, 'n' waitin' in the lorrel atter dark fer me, it's all I axe.” + </p> + <p> + “Waitin' in the lorrel!” Old Gabe could hold back no longer. “Hit's a + shame, a burn-in' shame! I don' know whut things air comm' to! 'Pears like + all you young folks think about is killin' somebody. Folks usen to talk + about how fer they could kill a deer; now it's how fer they kin kill a + man. I hev knowed the time when a man would 'a' been druv out o' the + county fer drawin' a knife ur a pistol; 'n' ef a feller was ever killed, + it was kinder accidental, by a Barlow. I reckon folks got use' to weepons + 'n' killin' 'n' bushwhackin' in the war. Looks like it's been gittin' wuss + ever sence, 'n' now hit's dirk 'n' Winchester, 'n' shootin' from the + bushes all the time. Hit's wuss 'n stealin' money to take a + feller-creetur' s life that way!” + </p> + <p> + The old miller's indignation sprang from memories of a better youth. For + the courtesies of the code went on to the Blue Grass, and before the war + the mountaineer fought with English fairness and his fists. It was a + disgrace to use a deadly weapon in those days; it was a disgrace now not + to use it. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I know all the excuses folks make,” he went on: “hit's fa'r fer one + as 'tis fer t'other; y'u can't fight a man fa'r 'n' squar' who'll shoot + you in the back; a pore man can't fight money in the couhts; 'n' thar + hain't no witnesses in the lorrel but leaves; 'n' dead men don't hev much + to say. I know it all. Hit's cur'us, but it act'-ally looks like lots o' + decent young folks hev got usen to the idee-thar's so much of it goin' on, + 'n' thar's so much talk 'bout killin' 'n' layin' out in the lorrel. Reckon + folks 'll git to pesterm' women n' strangers bimeby, 'n' robbin' 'n' + thievin'. Hit's bad enough thar's so leetle law thet folks hev to take it + in their own hands oncet in a while, but this shootin' from the + bresh-hit's p'int'ly a sin 'n' shame! Why,” he concluded, pointing his + remonstrance as he always did, “I seed your grandad and young Jas's fight + up thar in Hazlan full two hours 'fore the war-fist and skull-'n' your + grandad was whooped. They got up and shuk hands. I don't see why folks + can't fight that way now. I wish Rufe 'n' old Jas 'n' you 'n' young Jas + could have it out fist and skull, 'n' stop this killin' o' people like + hogs. Thar's nobody left but you four. But thar's no chance o' that, I + reckon.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll fight him anyway, 'n' I reckon ef he don't die till I lay out in the + lorrel fer him, he'll live a long time. Ef a Stetson ever done sech + meanness as that I never heerd it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nother hev I,” said the old man, with quick justice. “You air a + over-bearin' race, all o' ye, but I never knowed ye to be that mean. Hit's + all the wus fer ye thet ye air in sech doin's. I tell ye, Rome—” + </p> + <p> + A faint cry rose above the drone of the millstones, and old Gabe stopped + with open lips to listen. The boy's face was pressed close to the logs. A + wet paddle had flashed into the sunlight from out the bushes across the + river. He could just see a canoe in the shadows under them, and with quick + suspicion his brain pictured Jasper's horse hitched in the bushes, and + Jasper stealing across the river to waylay Rome. But the canoe moved + slowly out of sight downstream and toward the deep water, the paddler + unseen, and the boy looked around with a weak smile. Neither seemed to + have heard him. Rome was brooding, with his sullen face in his hands; the + old miller was busy with his own thoughts; and the boy turned again to his + watch. + </p> + <p> + Jasper did not come. Isom's eyes began to ache from the steady gaze, and + now and then he would drop them to the water swirling beneath. A slow wind + swayed the overhanging branches at the mouth of the stream, and under them + was an eddy. Escaping this, the froth and bubbles raced out to the gleams + beating the air from the sunlit river. He saw one tiny fleet caught; a + mass of yellow scum bore down and, sweeping through bubbles and eddy, was + itself struck into fragments by something afloat. A tremulous shadow shot + through a space of sunlight into the gloom cast by a thicket of + rhododendrons, and the boy caught his breath sharply. A moment more, and + the shape of a boat and a human figure quivered on the water running under + him. The stern of a Lewallen canoe swung into the basin, and he sprang to + his feet. + </p> + <p> + “Rome!” The cry cut sharply through the drowsy air. “Thar he is! Hit's + Jas!” + </p> + <p> + The old miller rose to his feet. The boy threw himself behind the sacks of + grain. Rome wheeled for his rifle, and stood rigid before the door. There + was a light step without, the click of a gun-lock within; a shadow fell + across the doorway, and a girl stood at the threshold with an empty bag in + her hand. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V + </h2> + <p> + WITH a little cry she shrank back a step. Her face paled and her lips + trembled, and for a moment she could not speak. But her eyes swept the + group, and were fixed in two points of fire on Rome. + </p> + <p> + “Why don't ye shoot!” she asked, scornfully. + </p> + <p> + “I hev heerd that the Stetsons have got to makin war on women-folks, but I + never believed it afore.” Then she turned to the miller. + </p> + <p> + “Kin I git some more meal hyeh?” she asked. “Or have ye stopped sellin' to + folks on t'other side?” she added, in a tone that sought no favor. + </p> + <p> + “You kin have all ye want,” said old Gabe, quietly. + </p> + <p> + “The mill on Dead Crick is broke ag'in,” she continued, “'n' co'n is + skeerce on our side. We'll have to begin buyin' purty soon, so I thought + I'd save totin' the co'n down hyeh.” She handed old Gabe the empty bag. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, “as it air gittin' late, 'n' ye have to climb the + mountain ag'in, I'll let ye have that comm' out o' the hopper now. Take a + cheer.” + </p> + <p> + The girl sat down in the low chair, and, loosening the strings of her + bonnet, pushed it back from her head. An old-fashioned horn comb dropped + to the floor, and when she stooped to pick it up she let her hair fall in + a head about her shoulders. Thrusting one hand under it, she calmly tossed + the whole mass of chestnut and gold over the back of the chair, where it + fell rippling like water through a bar of sunlight. With head thrown back + and throat bared, she shook it from side to side, and, slowly coiling it, + pierced it with the coarse comb. Then passing her hands across her + forehead and temples, as women do, she folded them in her lap, and sat + motionless. The boy, crouched near, held upon her the mesmeric look of a + serpent. Old Gabe was peering covertly from under the brim of his hat, + with a chuckle at his lips. Rome had fallen back to a corner of the mill, + sobered, speechless, his rifle in a nerveless hand. The passion that fired + him at the boy's warning had as swiftly gone down at sight of the girl, + and her cutting rebuke made him hot again with shame. He was angry, + too-more than angry-because he felt so helpless, a sensation that was new + and stifling. The scorn of her face, as he remembered it that morning, + hurt him again while he looked at her. A spirit of contempt was still in + her eyes, and quivering about her thin lips and nostrils. She had put him + beneath further notice, and yet every toss of her head, every movement of + her hands, seemed meant for him, to irritate him. And once, while she + combed her hair, his brain whirled with an impulse to catch the shining + stuff in one hand and to pinion both her wrists with the other, Just to + show her that he was master, and still would harm her not at all. But he + shut his teeth, and watched her. Among mountain women the girl was more + than pretty; elsewhere only her hair, perhaps, would have caught the + casual eye. She wore red homespun and coarse shoes; her hands were brown + and hardened. Her arms and shoulders looked muscular, her waist was rather + large-being as nature meant it-and her face in repose had a heavy look. + But the poise of her head suggested native pride and dignity; her eyes + were deep, and full of changing lights; the scarlet dress, loose as it + was, showed rich curves in her figure, and her movements had a certain + childlike grace. Her brow was low, and her mouth had character; the chin + was firm, the upper lip short, and the teeth were even and white. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon thar's enough to fill the sack, Isom,” said the old miller, + breaking the strained silence of the group. The girl rose and handed him a + few pieces of silver. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon I'd better pay fer it all,” she said. “I s'pose I won't be over + hyeh ag'in.” + </p> + <p> + Old Gabe gave some of the coins back. + </p> + <p> + “Y'u know whut my price al'ays is,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “I'm obleeged,” answered the girl, flushing. + </p> + <p> + “Co'n hev riz on our side. I thought mebbe you charged folks over thar + more, anyways.” + </p> + <p> + “I sells fer the same, ef co'n is high ur low,” was the answer. “This side + or t'other makes no diff'unce to me. I hev frien's on both sides, 'n' I + take no part in sech doin's as air a shame to the mountains.” + </p> + <p> + There was a quick light of protest in the girl's dark eyes; but the old + miller was honored by both factions, and without a word she turned to the + boy, who was tying the sack. + </p> + <p> + “The boat's loose!” he called out, with the string between his teeth; and + she turned again and ran out. Rome stood still. + </p> + <p> + “Kerry the sack out, boy, 'n' holp the gal.” Old Gabe's voice was stern, + and the young mountaineer doggedly swung the bag to his shoulders. The + girl had caught the rope, and drawn the rude dugout along the shore. + </p> + <p> + “Who axed ye to do that?” she asked, angrily. + </p> + <p> + Rome dropped the bag into the boat, and merely looked her in the face. + </p> + <p> + “Look hyeh, Rome Stetson”—the sound of his name from her lips almost + startled him—“I'll hev ye understan' that I don't want to be bounden + to you, nor none o' yer kin.” + </p> + <p> + Turning, she gave an impatient sweep with her paddle. The prow of the + canoe dipped and was motionless. Rome had caught the stern, and the girl + wheeled in hot anger. Her impulse to strike may have been for the moment + and no longer, or she may have read swiftly no unkindness in the + mountaineer's steady look; for the uplifted oar was stayed in the air, as + though at least she would hear him. + </p> + <p> + “I've got nothin' ag'in' you,” he said, slowly, “Jas Lewallen hev been + threatenin' me, 'n' I thought it was him, 'n' I was ready fer him, when + you come into the mill. I wouldn't hurt you nur no other woman. Y'u ought + to know it, 'n' ye do know it.” + </p> + <p> + The words were masterful, but said in a way that vaguely soothed the + girl's pride, and the oar was let slowly into the water. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon y'u air a friend o' his,” he added, still quietly. “I've seed ye + goin' up thar, but I've got nothin' ag'in' ye, whoever ye be.” + </p> + <p> + She turned on him a sharp look of suspicion. “I reckon I do be a friend o' + hisn,” she said, deliberately; and then she saw that he was in earnest. A + queer little smile went like a ray of light from her eyes to her lips, and + she gave a quick stroke with her paddle. The boat shot into the current, + and was carried swiftly toward the Cumberland. The girl stood erect, + swaying through light and shadow like a great scarlet flower blowing in + the wind; and Rome watched her till she touched the other bank. Swinging + the sack out, she stepped lightly after it, and, without looking behind + her, disappeared in the bushes. + </p> + <p> + The boy Isom was riding away when Rome, turned, and old Gabe was watching + from the door of the mill. + </p> + <p> + “Who is that gal?” he asked, slowly. It seemed somehow that he had known + her a long while ago. A puzzled frown overlay his face, and the old miller + laughed. + </p> + <p> + “You a-axin' who she be, 'n' she a-axin who you be, 'n' both o' ye + a-knowin' one 'nother sence ye was knee-high. Why, boy, hit's old Jasper's + gal—Marthy!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI + </h2> + <p> + IN a flash of memory Rome saw the girl as vividly as when he last saw her + years ago. They had met at the mill, he with his father, she with hers. + There was a quarrel, and the two men were held apart. But the old sore as + usual was opened, and a week later Rome's father was killed from the + brush. He remembered his mother's rage and grief, her calls for vengeance, + the uprising, the fights, plots, and ambushes. He remembered the look the + girl had given him that long ago, and her look that day was little + changed. + </p> + <p> + When fighting began, she had been sent for safety to the sister of her + dead mother in another county. When peace came, old Jasper married again + and the girl refused to come home. Lately the step-mother, too, had passed + away, and then she came back to live. All this the old miller told in + answer to Rome's questions as the two walked away in the twilight. This + was why he had not recognized her, and why her face yet seemed familiar + even when he crossed the river that morning. + </p> + <p> + “Uncle Gabe, how do you reckon the gal knowed who I was?” + </p> + <p> + “She axed me.” + </p> + <p> + “She axed you! Whar?” + </p> + <p> + “Over thar in the mill.” The miller was watching the young mountaineer + closely. The manner of the girl was significant when she asked who Rome + was, and the miller knew but one reason possible for his foolhardiness + that morning. + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to say she have been over hyeh afore?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes, come to think about it, three or four times while Isom was + sick, and whut she come fer I can't make out. The mill over thar wasn't + broke long, 'n' why she didn't go thar or bring more co'n at a time, to + save her the trouble o' so many trips, I can't see to save me.” + </p> + <p> + Young Stetson was listening eagerly. Again the miller cast his bait. + </p> + <p> + “Mebbe she's spyin'.” + </p> + <p> + Rome faced him, alert with suspicion; but old Gabe was laughing silently. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you be a fool, Rome. The gal comes and goes in that boat, 'n' she + couldn't see a soul without my knowin' it. She seed ye ridin' by one day, + 'n' she looked mighty cur'us when I tole her who ye was.” + </p> + <p> + Old Gabe stopped his teasing, Rome's face was so troubled, and himself + grew serious. + </p> + <p> + “Rome,” he said, earnestly, “I wish to the good Lord ye wasn't in sech + doin's. Ef that had been young Jas 'stid o' Marthy, I reckon ye would 'a' + killed him right thar.” + </p> + <p> + “I wasn't going to let him kill me,” was the sullen answer. + </p> + <p> + The two had stopped at a rickety gate swinging open on the road. The young + mountaineer was pushing a stone about with the toe of his boot. He had + never before listened to remonstrance with such patience, and old Gabe + grew bold. + </p> + <p> + “You've been drinkin' ag'in, Rome,” he said, sharply, “'n' I know it. + Hit's been moonshine that's whooped you Stetsons, not the Lewallens, long + as I kin rickollect, 'n' it ull be moonshine ag'in ef ye don't let it + alone.” + </p> + <p> + Rome made no denial, no defence. “Uncle Gabe,” he said slowly, still + busied with the stone, “hev that gal been over hyeh sence y'u tol' her who + I was?” + </p> + <p> + The old man was waiting for the pledge that seemed on his lips, but he did + not lose his temper. + </p> + <p> + “Not till to-day,” he said, quietly. + </p> + <p> + Rome turned abruptly, and the two separated with no word of parting. For a + moment the miller watched the young fellow striding away under his rifle. + </p> + <p> + “I have been atter peace a good while,” he said to himself, “but I reckon + thar's a bigger hand a-workin' now than mine.” Then he lifted his voice. + “Ef Isom's too sick to come down to the mill to-morrer, I wish you'd come + 'n' holp me.” + </p> + <p> + Rome nodded back over his shoulder, and went on, with head bent, along the + river road. Passing a clump of pines at the next curve, he pulled a bottle + from his pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Uncle Gabe's about right, I reckon,” he said, half aloud; and he raised + it above his head to hurl it away, but checked it in mid-air. For a moment + he looked at the colorless liquid, then, with quick nervousness, pulled + the cork of sassafras leaves, gulped down the pale moonshine, and dashed + the bottle against the trunk of a beech. The fiery stuff does its work in + a hurry. He was thirsty when he reached the mouth of a brook that tumbled + down the mountain along the pathway that would lead him home, and he + stooped to drink where the water sparkled in a rift of dim light from + overhead. Then he sat upright on a stone, with his wide hat-brim curved in + a crescent over his forehead, his hands caught about his knees, and his + eyes on the empty air. + </p> + <p> + He was scarcely over his surprise that the girl was young Lewallen's + sister, and the discovery had wrought a curious change. The piquant + impulse of rivalry was gone, and something deeper was taking its place. He + was confused and a good deal troubled, thinking it all over. He tried to + make out what the girl meant by looking at him from the mountain-side, by + waving her bonnet at him, and by coming to old Gabe's mill when she could + have gone to her own. To be sure, she did not know then who he was, and + she had stopped coming when she learned; but why had she crossed again + that day? Perhaps she too was bantering him, and he was at once angry and + drawn to her; for her mettlesome spirit touched his own love of daring, + even when his humiliation was most bitter-when she told him he warred on + women; when he held out to her the branch of peace and she swept it aside + with a stroke of her oar. But Rome was little conscious of the weight of + subtle facts like these. His unseeing eyes went back to her as she combed + her hair. He saw the color in her cheeks, the quick light in her eyes, the + naked, full throat once more, and the wavering forces of his unsteady + brain centred in a stubborn resolution-to see it all again. He would make + Isom stay at home, if need be, and he would take the boy's place at the + mill. If she came there no more, he would cross the river again. Come + peace or war, be she friend or enemy, he would see her. His thirst was + fierce again, and, with this half-drunken determination in his heart, he + stooped once more to drink from the cheerful little stream. As he rose, a + loud curse smote the air. The river, pressed between two projecting + cliffs, was narrow at that point, and the oath came across the water. An + instant later a man led a lamed horse from behind a bowlder, and stooped + to examine its leg. The dusk was thickening, but Rome knew the huge frame + and gray beard of old Jasper Lewallen. The blood beat in a sudden tide at + his temples, and, half by instinct, he knelt behind a rock, and, thrusting + his rifle through a crevice, cocked it softly. + </p> + <p> + Again the curse of impatience came over the still water, and old Jasper + rose and turned toward him. The glistening sight caught in the centre of + his beard. That would take him in the throat; it might miss, and he let + the sight fall till the bullet would cut the fringe of gray hair into the + heart. Old Jasper, so people said, had killed his father in just this way; + he had driven his uncle from the mountains; he was trying now to revive + the feud. He was the father of young Jasper, who had threatened his life, + and the father of the girl whose contempt had cut him to the quick twice + that day. Again her taunt leaped through his heated brain, and his boast + to the old miller followed it. His finger trembled at the trigger. + </p> + <p> + “No; by ——, no!” he breathed between his teeth; and old Jasper + passed on, unharmed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII + </h2> + <p> + NEXT day the news of Rufe Stetson's flight went down the river on the + wind, and before nightfall the spirit of murder was loosed on both shores + of the Cumberland. The more cautious warned old Jasper. The Stetsons were + gaining strength again, they said; so were their feudsmen, the Marcums, + enemies of the Braytons, old Jasper's kinspeople. Keeping store, Rufe had + made money in the West, and money and friends right and left through the + mountains. With all his good-nature, he was a persistent hater, and he was + shrewd. He had waited the chance to put himself on the side of the law, + and now the law was with him. But old Jasper laughed contemptuously. Rufe + Stetson was gone again, he said, as he had gone before, and this time for + good. Rufe had tried to do what nobody had done, or could do, while he was + alive. Anyway, he was reckless, and he cared little if war did come again. + Still, the old man prepared for a fight, and Steve Marcum on the other + shore made ready for Rufe's return. + </p> + <p> + It was like the breaking of peace in feudal days. The close kin of each + leader were already about him, and now the close friends of each took + sides. Each leader trading in Hazlan had debtors scattered through the + mountains, and these rallied to aid the man who had befriended them. There + was no grudge but served a pretext for partisanship in the coming war. + Political rivalry had wedged apart two strong families, the Marcums and + Braytons; a boundary line in dispute was a chain of bitterness; a suit in + a country court had sown seeds of hatred. Sometimes it was a horse-trade, + a fence left down, or a gate left open, and the trespassing of cattle; in + one instance, through spite, a neighbor had docked the tail of a + neighbor's horse—had “muled his critter,” as the owner phrased the + outrage. There was no old sore that was not opened by the crafty leaders, + no slumbering bitterness that they did not wake to life. “Help us to + revenge, and we will help you,” was the whispered promise. So, had one man + a grudge against another, he could set his foot on one or the other shore, + sure that his enemy would be fighting for the other. + </p> + <p> + Others there were, friends of neither leader, who, under stress of poverty + or hatred of work, would fight with either for food and clothes; and + others still, the ne'er-do-wells and outlaws, who fought by the day or + month for hire. Even these were secured by one or the other faction, for + Steve and old Jasper left no resource untried, knowing well that the + fight, if there was one, would be fought to a quick and decisive end. The + day for the leisurely feud, for patient planning, and the slow picking off + of men from one side or the other, was gone. The people in the Blue Grass, + who had no feuds in their own country, were trying 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Air you goin' to ride the hoss to-day, Jas?” she asked, querulously. + </p> + <p> + “That's jes whut I was aimin' to do. I'm a-goin' to town.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I 'lowed I was goin' to mill to-day. The co'n is 'mos' gone.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, y'u 'lowed wrong,” he answered, imperturbably. + </p> + <p> + “Y'u're mean, Jas Lewallen,” she cried, hotly; “that's whut ye air, mean—dog-mean!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, he ain't no hoss to be left out'n the bresh now, 'n' I hain't goin' + to 'low it.” + </p> + <p> + 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.” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + The boy started away, and the old man followed, and halted him out of the + girl's hearing. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “I lef' somethin' fer ye to eat, dad,” she replied, “ef ye gits hungry + before I git back.” + </p> + <p> + “You heerd me?” he called after her, knitting his brows. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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. No greeting passed. The girl lifted her head with a + little toss that deepened the set look about the mountaineer's mouth; her + lax figure grew tense as though strung suddenly against some coming harm, + and her eyes searched the shadows without once resting on him. + </p> + <p> + “Whar's Uncle Gabe?” She spoke shortly, and as to a stranger. + </p> + <p> + “Gone to town,” said Rome, composedly. “He had schooled himself for this + meeting.” + </p> + <p> + “When's he comm' back?” + </p> + <p> + “Not 'fore night, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + “Whar's Isom?” + </p> + <p> + “Isom's sick.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, who's tendin' this mill?” + </p> + <p> + For answer he tossed the empty bag into the corner and, without looking at + her, picked up another bag. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon ye see me, don't ye?” he asked, coolly. “Hev a cheer, and rest a + spell. Hit's a purty long climb whar you come from.” + </p> + <p> + The girl was confused. She stayed in the doorway, a little helpless and + suspicious. What was Rome Stetson doing here? His mastery of the + situation, his easy confidence, puzzled and irritated her. Should she + leave? The mountaineer was a Stetson, a worm to tread on if it crawled + across the path. It would be like backing down before an enemy. He might + laugh at her after she was gone, and, at that thought, she sat down in the + chair with composed face, looking through the door at the tumbling water, + which broke with a thousand tints under the sun, but able still to see + Rome, sidewise, as he moved about the hopper, whistling softly. + </p> + <p> + Once she looked around, fancying she saw a smile on his sober face. Their + eyes came near meeting, and she turned quite away. + </p> + <p> + “Ever seed a body out'n his head?” + </p> + <p> + The girl's eyes rounded with a start of surprise. + </p> + <p> + “Well, it's plumb cur'us. Isom's been that way lately. Isom's sick, ye + know. Uncle Gabe's got the rheumatiz, 'n' Isom's mighty fond o' Uncle + Gabe, 'n' the boy pestered me till I come down to he'p him. Hit p'int'ly + air strange to hear him talkin'. He's jes a-ravin' 'bout hell 'n' heaven, + 'n' the sin o' killin' folks. You'd ha' thought he hed been convicted, + though none o' our fambly hev been much atter religion. He says as how the + wrath uv a livin' God is a-goin' to sweep these mount ins, ef some mighty + tall repentin' hain't done. Of co'se he got all them notions from Gabe. + But Isom al'ays was quar, 'n' seed things hisself. He ain't no fool!” + </p> + <p> + The girl was listening. Morbidly sensitive to the supernatural, she had + turned toward him, and her face was relaxed with fear and awe. + </p> + <p> + “He's havin' dreams 'n' sech-like now, 'n' I reckon thar's nothing he's + seed or heerd that he don' talk about. He's been a-goin' on about you,” he + added, abruptly. The girl's hands gave a nervous twitch. “Oh, he don't say + nothin' ag'in' ye. I reckon he tuk a fancy to ye. Mam was plumb + distracted, not knowin' whar he had seed ye. She thought it was like his + other talk, 'n' I never let on-a-knowin' how mam was.” A flush rose like a + flame from the girl's throat to her hair. “But hit's this,” Rome went on + in an unsteady tone, “that he talks most about, 'n' I'm sorry myself that + trouble's a-comm'.” He dropped all pretence now. “I've been a-watchin' fer + ye over thar on t' other shore a good deal lately. I didn't know ye at + fust, Marthy”—he spoke her name for the first time— “'n' Gabe + says y'u didn't know me. I remembered ye, though, 'n' I want to tell ye + now what I tol' ye then: I've got nothin' ag'in you. I was hopin' ye + mought come over ag'in—hit was sorter cur'us that y'u was the same + gal—the same gal—” + </p> + <p> + His self-control left him; he was halting in speech, and blundering he did + not know where. Fumbling an empty bag at the hopper, he had not dared to + look at the girl till he heard her move. She had risen, and was picking up + her bag. The hard antagonism of her face calmed him instantly. + </p> + <p> + “Hain't ye goin' to have yer grist ground?” + </p> + <p> + “Not hyeh,” she answered, quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Why, gal—” He got no further. Martha was gone, and he followed her + to the bank, bewildered. + </p> + <p> + The girl's suspicion, lulled by his plausible explanation, had grown sharp + again. The mountaineer knew that she had been coming there. He was at the + mill for another reason than to take the boy's place; and with swift + intuition she saw the truth. + </p> + <p> + He got angry as she rode away—angry with himself that he had let her + go; and the same half-tender, half-brutal impulse seized him as when he + saw her first. This time he yielded. His horse was at hand, and the river + not far below was narrow. The bridle-path that led to the Lewallen cabin + swerved at one place to a cliff overlooking the river, and by hard riding + and a climb of a few hundred feet on foot he could overtake her half-way + up the mountain steep. + </p> + <p> + The plan was no more than shaped before he was in the saddle and galloping + down the river. The set of his face changed hardly a line while he swam + the stream, and, drenched to the waist, scaled the cliff. When he reached + the spot, he found the prints of a woman's shoe in the dust of the path, + going down. There were none returning, and he had not long to wait. A + scarlet bit of color soon flashed through the gray bushes below him. The + girl was without her bag of corn. She was climbing slowly, and was looking + at the ground as though in deep thought. Reckless as she was, she had come + to realize at last just what she had done. She had been pleased at first, + as would have been any woman, when she saw the big mountaineer watching + her, for her life was lonely. She had waved her bonnet at him from mere + mischief. She hardly knew it herself, but she had gone across the river to + find out who he was. She had shrunk from him as from a snake thereafter, + and had gone no more until old Jasper had sent her because the Lewallen + mill was broken, and because she was a woman, and would be safe from harm. + She had met him then when she could not help herself. But now she had gone + of her own accord. She had given this Stetson, a bitter enemy, a chance to + see her, to talk with her. She had listened to him; she had been on the + point of letting him grind her corn. And he knew how often she had gone to + the mill, and he could not know that she had ever been sent. Perhaps he + thought that she had come to make overtures of peace, friendship, even + more. The suspicion reddened her face with shame, and her anger at him was + turned upon herself. Why she had gone again that day she hardly knew. But + if there was another reason than simple perversity, it was the memory of + Rome Stetson's face when he caught her boat and spoke to her in a way she + could not answer. The anger of the moment came with every thought of the + incident afterward, and with it came too this memory of his look, which + made her at once defiant and uneasy. She saw him now only when she was + quite close, and, startled, she stood still; his stern look brought her + the same disquiet, but she gave no sign of fear. + </p> + <p> + “Whut's the matter with ye?” + </p> + <p> + The question was too abrupt, too savage, and the girl looked straight at + him, and her lips tightened with a resolution not to speak. The movement + put him beyond control. + </p> + <p> + “Y'u puts hell into me, Marthy Lewallen; y'u puts downright hell into me.” + The words came between gritted teeth. “I want to take ye up 'n' throw ye + off this cliff clean into the river, 'n' I reckon the next minute I'd jump + off atter ye. Y'u've 'witched me, gal! I forgits who ye air 'n' who I be, + 'n' sometimes I want to come over hyeh 'n' kerry ye out'n these mountins, + n' nuver come back. You know whut I've been watchin' the river fer sence + the fust time I seed ye. You know whut I've been a-stayin' at the mill + fer, 'n' Steve mad 'n' mam a-jowerin'—'n' a-lookin' over hyeh fer ye + night 'n' day! Y'u know whut I've jes swum over hyeh fer! Whut's the + matter with ye?” + </p> + <p> + Martha was not looking for a confession like this. It took away her shame + at once, and the passion of it thrilled her, and left her trembling. While + he spoke her lashes drooped quickly, her face softened, and the color came + back to it. She began intertwining her fingers, and would not look up at + him. + </p> + <p> + “Ef y'u hates me like the rest uv ye, why don't ye say it right out? 'N' + ef ye do hate me, whut hev you been lookin' 'cross the river fer, 'n' + a-shakin' yer bonnet at me, 'n' paddlin' to Gabe's fer yer grist, when the + mill on Dead Crick's been a-runnin', 'n' I know it? You've been banterin' + me, hev ye?”—the blood rose to his eyes again. “Ye mustn't fool with + me, gal, by ——, ye mustn't. Whut hev you been goin' over thar + fer?” He even took a threatening step toward her, and, with a helpless + gesture, stopped. The girl was a little frightened. Indeed, she smiled, + seeing her power over him; she seemed even about to laugh outright; but + the smile turned to a quick look of alarm, and she bent her head suddenly + to listen to something below. At last she did speak. “Somebody's comm'!” + she said. “You'd better git out o' the way,” she went on, hurriedly. + “Somebody's comm', I tell ye! Don't ye hear?” + </p> + <p> + It was no ruse to get rid of him. The girl's eyes were dilating. Something + was coming far below. Rome could catch the faint beats of a horse's hoofs. + He was unarmed, and he knew it was death for him to be seen on that + forbidden mountain; but he was beyond caution, and ready to welcome any + vent to his passion, and he merely shook his head. + </p> + <p> + “Ef it's Satan hisself, I hain't goin' to run.” The hoof-beats came + nearer. The rider must soon see them from the coil below. + </p> + <p> + “Rome, hit's Jas! He's got his rifle, and he'll kill ye, 'n' me too!” The + girl was white with distress. She had called him by his name, and the tone + was of appeal, not anger. The black look passed from his face, and he + caught her by the shoulders with rough tenderness; but she pushed him + away, and without a word he sprang from the road and let himself + noiselessly down the cliff. The hoof-beats thundered above his head, and + Young Jasper's voice hailed Martha. + </p> + <p> + “This hyeh's the bigges' meal I ever straddled. Why d'n't ye git the grist + ground?” + </p> + <p> + For a moment the girl did not answer, and Rome waited, breathless. “Wasn't + the mill runnin'? Whyn't ye go on 'cross the river? + </p> + <p> + “That's whut I did,” said the girl, quietly. “Uncle Gabe wasn't thar, 'n' + Rome Stetson was. I wouldn't 'low him to grin' the co 'n, 'n' so I toted + hit back.” + </p> + <p> + “Rome Stetson!” The voice was lost in a volley of oaths. + </p> + <p> + The two passed out of hearing, and Rome went plunging down the mountain, + swinging recklessly from one little tree to another, and wrenching limbs + from their sockets out of pure physical ecstasy. When he reached his horse + he sat down, breathing heavily, on a bed of moss, with a strange new + yearning in his heart. If peace should come! Why not peace, if Rufe should + not come back? He would be the leader then, and without him there could be + no war. Old Jasper had killed his father. He was too young at the time to + feel poignant sorrow now, and somehow he could look even at that death in + a fairer way. His father had killed old Jasper's brother. So it went back: + a Lewallen killed a Stetson; that Stetson had killed a Lewallen, until one + end of the chain of deaths was lost, and the first fault could not be + placed, though each clan put it on the other. In every generation there + had been compromises—periods of peace; why not now? Old Gabe would + gladly help him. He might make friends with young Jasper; he might even + end the feud. And then-he and Martha-why not? He closed his eyes, and for + one radiant moment t all seemed possible. And then a gaunt image rose in + the dream, and only the image was left. It was the figure of his mother, + stern and silent through the years, opening her grim lips rarely without + some curse against the Lewallen race. He remembered she had smiled for the + first time when she heard of the new trouble-the flight of his uncle and + the hope of conflict. She had turned to him with her eyes on fire and her + old hands clinched. She had said nothing, but he understood her look. And + now-Good God! what would she think and say if she could know what he had + done? His whole frame twitched at the thought, and, with a nervous spring + to escape it, he was on his feet, and starting down the mountain. + </p> + <p> + Close to the river he heard voices below him, and he turned his horse + quickly aside into the bushes. Two women who had been washing clothes + passed, carrying white bundles home. They were talking of the coming feud. + </p> + <p> + “That ar young Stetson ain't much like his dad,” said one. “Young Jas has + been a-darin' 'n' a-banterin' him, 'n' he won't take it up. They say he + air turnin' out a plumb coward.” + </p> + <p> + When he reached the Stetson cabin three horses with drooping heads were + hitched to the fence. All had travelled a long way. One wore a man's + saddle; on the others were thick blankets tied together with leathern + thongs. + </p> + <p> + In the dark porch sat several men. Through the kitchen door he could see + his mother getting supper. Inside a dozen rifles leaned against the wall + in the firelight, and about their butts was a pile of ammunition. In the + doorway stood Rufe Stetson. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX + </h2> + <p> + ALL were smoking and silent. Several spoke from the shadows as Rome + stepped on the porch, and Rufe Stetson faced him a moment in the doorway, + and laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Seem kinder s'prised?” he said, with a searching look. “Wasn't lookin' + for me? I reckon I'll s'prise sev'ral ef I hev good-luck.” + </p> + <p> + The subtlety of this sent a chuckle of appreciation through the porch, but + Rome passed in without answer. + </p> + <p> + Isom lay on his bed within the circle of light, and his face in the + brilliant glow was white, and his eyes shone feverishly. “Rome,” he said, + excitedly, “Uncle Rufe's hyeh, 'n' they laywayed him, 'n'——” + He paused abruptly. His mother came in, and at her call the mountaineers + trooped through the covered porch, and sat down to supper in the kitchen. + They ate hastily and in silence, the mother attending their wants, and + Rome helping her. The meal finished, they drew their chairs about the + fire. Pipes were lighted, and Rufe Stetson rose and closed the door. + </p> + <p> + “Thar's no use harryin' the boy,” he said; “I reckon he'll be too puny to + take a hand.” + </p> + <p> + The mother stopped clearing the table, and sat on the rock hearth close to + the fire, her withered lips shut tight about a lighted pipe, and her + sunken eyes glowing like the coal of fire in its black bowl. Now and then + she would stretch her knotted hands nervously into the flames, or knit + them about her knees, looking closely at the heavy faces about her, which + had lightened a little with expectancy. Rufe Stetson stood before the + blaze, his hands clasped behind him, and his huge figure bent in + reflection. At intervals he would look with half-shut eyes at Rome, who + Sat with troubled face outside the firelight. Across the knees of Steve + Marcum, the best marksman in the mountains, lay the barrel of a new + Winchester. Old Sam Day, Rufe's father-in-law and counsellor to the + Stetsons for a score of years, sat as if asleep on the opposite side of + the fireplace from the old mother, with his big square head pressed down + between his misshapen shoulders. + </p> + <p> + “The time hev come, Rome.” Rufe spoke between the puffs of his pipe, and + Rome's heart quickened, for every eye was upon him. “Thar's goin' to be + trouble now. I hear as how young Jasper hev been talkin' purty tall about + ye—'lowin' as how ye air afeard O' him.” + </p> + <p> + Rome felt his mother's burning look. He did not turn toward her nor Rufe, + but his face grew sullen, and his voice was low and harsh. “I reckon he'll + find out about that when the time comes,” he said, quietly-too quietly, + for the old mother stirred uneasily, and significant glances went from eye + to eye. Rufe did not look up from the floor. He had been told about Rome's + peculiar conduct, and, while the reason for it was beyond guessing, he + knew the temper of the boy and how to kindle it. He had thrust a thorn in + a tender spot, and he let it rankle. How sorely it did rankle he little + knew. The voice of the woman across the river was still in Rome's ears. + Nothing cuts the mountaineer to the quick like the name of coward. It + stung him like the lash of an ox-whip then; it smarted all the way across + the river and up the mountain. Young Jasper had been charging him + broadcast with cowardice, and Jasper's people no doubt believed it. + Perhaps his own did—his uncle, his mother. The bare chance of such a + humiliation set up an inward rage. He wondered how he could ever have been + such a fool as to think of peace. The woman's gossip had swept kindly + impulses from his heart with a fresh tide of bitterness, and, helpless now + against its current, he sullenly gave way, and let his passions loose to + drift with it. + </p> + <p> + “Whar d' ye git the guns, Rufe?” Steve was testing the action of the + Winchester with a kindling look, as the click of the locks struck softly + through the silence. + </p> + <p> + “Jackson; 'way up in Breathitt, at the eend of the new road.” + </p> + <p> + “No wonder y'u've been gone so long.” + </p> + <p> + “I had to wait thar fer the guns, 'n' I had to travel atter dark comm' + back, 'n' lay out'n the bresh by day. Hit's full eighty mile up thar.” + </p> + <p> + “Air ye shore nobody seed ye?” + </p> + <p> + The question was from a Marcum, who had come in late, and several laughed. + Rufe threw back his dusty coat, which was ripped through the lapel by a + bullet. + </p> + <p> + “They seed me well 'nough fer that,” he said, grimly, and then he looked + toward Rome, who thought of old Jasper, and gave back a gleam of fierce + sympathy. There were several nods of approval along with the laugh that + followed. It was a surprise—so little consideration of an escape so + narrow—from Rufe; for, as old Gabe said, Rufe was big and + good-natured, and was not thought fit for leadership. But there was a + change in him when he came back from the West. He was quieter; he laughed + less No one spoke of the difference; it was too vague; but every one felt + it, and it had an effect. His flight had made many uneasy, but his return, + for that reason, brought a stancher fealty from these; and this was + evident now. All eyes were upon him, and all tongues, even old Sam's, + waited now for his to speak. + </p> + <p> + “Whut we've got to do, we've got to do mighty quick,” he began, at last. + “Things air changin'. I seed it over thar in Breathitt. The soldiers 'n' + that scar-faced Jellico preacher hev broke up the fightin' over thar, 'n' + ef we don't watch out, they'll be a-doin' it hyeh, when we start our + leetle frolic. We hain't got no time to fool. Old Jas knows this as well + as me, 'n' thar's goin' to be mighty leetle chance fer 'em to layway 'n' + pick us off from the bresh. Thar's goin' to be fa'r fightin' fer once, + thank the Lord. They bushwhacked us dunn' the war, 'n' they've laywayed us + 'n' shot us to pieces ever sence; but now, ef God A'mighty's willin', the + thing's a-goin' to be settled one way or t'other at last, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + He stopped a moment to think. The men's breathing could be heard, so quiet + was the room, and Rufe went on telling in detail, slowly, as if to + himself, the wrongs the Lewallens had done his people. When he came to old + Jasper his voice was low, and his manner was quieter than ever. + </p> + <p> + “Now old Jas have got to the p'int whar he says as how nobody in this + county kin undersell him 'n' stay hyeh. Old Jas druv Bond Vickers out'n + the mount 'ins fer tryin' hit. He druv Jess Hale away; 'n' them two air + our kin.” + </p> + <p> + The big mountaineer turned then, and knocked the ashes from his pipe. His + eyes grew a little brighter, and his nostrils spread, but with a sweep of + his arm he added, still quietly: + </p> + <p> + “Y' all know whut he's done.” + </p> + <p> + The gesture lighted memories of personal wrongs in every breast; he had + tossed a fire-brand among fagots, and an angry light began to burn from + the eyes that watched him. + </p> + <p> + “Ye know, too, that he thinks he has played the same game with me; but ye + don't know, I reckon, that he had ole Jim Stover 'n' that mis'able Eli + Crump a-hidin' in the bushes to shoot me”—again he grasped the torn + lapel; “that a body warned me to git away from Hazlan; n' the night I left + home they come thar to kill me, 'n' s'arched the house, 'n' skeered Mollie + n' the leetle gal 'most to death.” + </p> + <p> + The mountaineer's self-control was lost suddenly in a furious oath. The + men did know, but in fresh anger they leaned forward in their chairs, and + twisted about with smothered curses. The old woman had stopped smoking, + and was rocking her body to and fro. Her lips were drawn in upon her + toothless gums, and her pipe was clinched against her sunken breast. The + head of the old mountaineer was lifted, and his eyes were open and shining + fiercely. + </p> + <p> + “I hear as how he says I'm gone fer good. Well, I have been kinder + easy-goin', hatin' to fight, but sence the day I seed Rome's dad thar dead + in his blood, I hev had jes one thing I wanted to do. Thar wasn't no use + stayin' hyeh; I seed that. Rome thar was too leetle, and they was too many + fer me. I knowed it was easier to git a new start out West, 'n' when I + come back to the mount'in, hit was to do jes-whut I'm—going—to—do—now.” + He wheeled suddenly upon Rome, with one huge hand lifted. Under it the old + woman's voice rose in a sudden wail: + </p> + <p> + “Yes; 'n' I want to see it done befoh I die. I hain't hyeh fer long, but I + hain't goin' to leave as long as ole Jas is hyeh, 'n' I want ye all to + know it. Ole Jas hev got to go fust. You hear me, Rome? I'm a-talkin' to + you; I'm a-talkin' to you. Hit's yo' time now!” + </p> + <p> + The frenzied chant raised Rome from his chair. Rufe himself took up the + spirit of it, and his voice was above all caution. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Rome! They killed him, boy. They sneaked on him, 'n' shot him to + pieces from the bushes. Yes; hit's yo' time now! Look hyeh, boys!” He + reached above the fireplace and took down an old rifle—his brother's—which + the old mother had suffered no one to touch. He held it before the fire, + pointing to two crosses made near the flash-pan. “Thar's one fer ole Jim + Lewallen! Thar's one fer ole Jas! He got Jim, but ole Jas has got him, 'n' + thar's his cross thar yit! Whar's yo' gun, Rome? Shame on ye, boy!” + </p> + <p> + The wild-eyed old woman was before him. She had divined Rufe's purpose, + and was already at his side, with Rome's Winchester in one hand and a + clasp-knife in the other. Every man was on his feet; the door was open, + and the boy Isom was at the threshold, his eyes blazing from his white + face. Rome had strode forward. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, boy; now's the time, right hyeh before us all!” + </p> + <p> + The mother had the knife outstretched. Rome took it, and the scratch of + the point on the hard steel went twice through the stillness—“one + more fer the young un;” the voice was the old mother's—then twice + again. + </p> + <p> + The moon was sinking when Rome stood in the door alone. The tramp of + horses was growing fainter down the mountain. The trees were swaying in + the wind below him, and he could just see the gray cliffs on the other + shore. The morning seemed far away; it made him dizzy looking back to it + through the tumult of the day. Somewhere in the haze was the vision of a + girl's white face—white with distress for him. Her father and her + brother he had sworn to kill. He had made a cross for each, and each cross + was an oath. He closed the door; and then he gave way, and sat down with + his head in both hands. The noises in the kitchen ceased. The fire died + away, and the chill air gathered about him. When he rose, the restless + eyes of the boy were upon him from the shadows. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X + </h2> + <p> + IT was court-day in Hazlan, but so early in the morning nothing was astir + in the town that hinted of its life on such a day. But for the ring of a + blacksmith's anvil on the quiet air, and the fact that nowhere was a + church-spire visible, a stranger would have thought that the peace of + Sabbath overlay a village of God-fearing people. A burly figure lounged in + the porch of a rickety house, and yawned under a swinging sign, the rude + letters of which promised “private entertainment” for the traveller + unlucky enough to pass that way. In the one long, narrow main street, + closely flanked by log and framed houses, nothing else human was in sight. + Out from this street, and in an empty square, stood the one brick building + in the place, the court-house, brick without, brick within; unfinished, + unpencilled, unpainted; panes out of the windows, a shutter off here and + there, or swinging drunkenly on one hinge; the door wide op en, as though + there was no privacy within—a poor structure, with the look of a + good man gone shiftless and fast going wrong. + </p> + <p> + Soon two or three lank brown figures appeared from each direction on foot; + then a horseman or two, and by and by mountaineers came in groups, on + horse and on foot. In time the side alleys and the court-house square were + filled with horses and mules, and even steers. The mountaineers crowded + the narrow street: idling from side to side; squatting for a bargain on + the wooden sidewalks; grouping on the porch of the rickety hotel, and on + the court-house steps loitering in and out of the one store in sight. Out + in the street several stood about a horse, looking at his teeth, holding + his eyes to the sun, punching his ribs, twisting his tail; while the + phlegmatic owner sat astride the submissive beast, and spoke short answers + to rare questions. Everybody talked politics, the crop failure, or the + last fight at the seat of some private war; but nobody spoke of a Lewallen + or a Stetson unless he knew his listener's heart, and said it in a + whisper. For nobody knew when the powder would flash, or who had taken + sides, or that a careless word might not array him with one or the other + faction. + </p> + <p> + A motley throng it was—in brown or gray homespun, with trousers in + cowhide boots, and slouched hats with brims curved according to + temperament, but with striking figures in it; the patriarch with long, + white hair, shorn even with the base of the neck, and bearded only at the + throat-a justice of the peace, and the sage of his district; a little + mountaineer with curling black hair and beard, and dark, fine features; a + grizzled giant with a head rugged enough to have been carelessly chipped + from stone; a bragging candidate claiming everybody's notice; a + square-shouldered fellow surging through the crowd like a stranger; an + open-faced, devil-may-care young gallant on fire with moonshine; a + skulking figure with brutish mouth and shifting eyes. Indeed, every figure + seemed distinct; for, living apart from his neighbor, and troubling the + law but little in small matters of dispute, the mountaineer preserves + independence, and keeps the edges of his individuality unworn. Apparently + there was not a woman in town. Those that lived there kept housed, and the + fact was significant. Still, it was close to noon, and yet not a Stetson + or a Lewallen had been seen. The stores of Rufe and old Jasper were at the + extremities of the town, and the crowd did not move those ways. It waited + in the centre, and whetted impatience by sly trips in twos and three to + stables or side alleys for “mountain dew.” Now and then the sheriff, a + little man with a mighty voice, would appear on the courthouse steps, and + summon a witness to court, where a frightened judge gave instructions to a + frightened jury. But few went, unless called; for the interest was + outside; every man in the streets knew that a storm was nigh, and was + waiting to see it burst. + </p> + <p> + Noon passed. A hoarse bell and a whining hound had announced dinner in the + hotel. The guests were coming again into the streets. Eyes were brighter, + faces a little more flushed, and the “moonshine” was passed more openly. + Both ways the crowd watched closely. The quiet at each end of the street + was ominous, and the delay could last but little longer. The lookers-on + themselves were getting quarrelsome. The vent must come soon, or among + them there would be trouble. + </p> + <p> + “Thar comes Jas Lewallen!” At last. A dozen voices spoke at once. A + horseman had appeared far down the street from the Lewallen end. The + clouds broke from about the sun, and a dozen men knew the horse that bore + him; for the gray was prancing the street sidewise, and throwing the + sunlight from his flanks. Nobody followed, and the crowd was puzzled. + Young Jasper carried a Winchester across his saddle-bow, and, swaying with + the action of his horse, came on. + </p> + <p> + “What air he about?” + </p> + <p> + “He's a plumb idgit.” + </p> + <p> + “He mus' be crazy.” + </p> + <p> + “He's drunk!” + </p> + <p> + The wonder ceased. Young Jasper was reeling. Two or three Stetsons slipped + from the crowd, and there was a galloping of hoofs the other way. Another + horseman appeared from the Lewallen end, riding hastily. The new-comer's + errand was to call Jasper back. But the young dare-devil was close to the + crowd, and was swinging a bottle over his head. + </p> + <p> + “Come back hyeh, Jas! Come hyeh!” The new-comer was shouting afar off + while he galloped. Horses were being untethered from the side alleys. + Several more Lewallen riders came in sight. They could see the gray + shining in the sunlight amid the crowd, and the man sent after him halted + at a safe distance, gesticulating; and they, too, spurred forward. + </p> + <p> + “Hello, boys!” young Jasper was calling out, as he swayed from side to + side, the people everywhere giving him way. + </p> + <p> + “Fun to-day, by ——! fun to-day! Who'll hev a drink? Hyeh's + hell to the Stetsons, whar some of 'em 'll be afore night!” + </p> + <p> + With a swagger he lifted the bottle to his lips, and, stopping short, let + it fall untouched to the ground. He had straightened in his saddle, and + was looking up the street. With a deep curse he threw the Winchester to + his shoulder, fired, and before his yell had died on his lips horse and + rider were away like a shaft of light. The crowd melted like magic from + the street. The Stetsons, chiefly on foot, did not return the fire, but + halted up the street, as if parleying. Young Jasper joined his party, and + they, too, stood still a moment, puzzled by the irresolution of the other + side. + </p> + <p> + “Watch out! they're gittin' round ye! Run for the court-house, ye + fools!-ye, run!” The voice came in a loud yell from somewhere down the + street, and its warning was just in time. + </p> + <p> + A wreath of smoke came about a corner of the house far down the street, + and young Jasper yelled, and dashed up a side alley with his followers. A + moment later judge, jury, witnesses, and sheriff were flying down the + court-house steps at the point of Lewallen guns; the Lewallen horses, led + by the gray, were snorting through the streets; their riders, barricaded + in the forsaken court-house, were puffing a stream of fire and smoke from + every window of court-room below and jury-room above. + </p> + <p> + The streets were a bedlam. The Stetsons were yelling with triumph. The + Lewallens were divided, and Rufe placed three Stetsons with Winchesters on + each side of the courthouse, and kept them firing. Rome, pale and stern, + hid his force between the square and the Lewallen store. He was none too + quick. The rest were coming on, led by old Jasper. It was reckless, riding + that way right into death; but the old man believed young Jasper's life at + stake, and the men behind asked no questions when old Jasper led them. The + horses' hoofs beat the dirt street like the crescendo of thunder. The + fierce old man's hat was gone, and his mane-like hair was shaking in the + wind. Louder-and still the Stetsons were quiet-quiet too long. The wily + old man saw the trap, and, with a yell, whirled the column up an alley, + each man flattening over his saddle. From every window, from behind every + corner and tree, smoke belched from the mouth of a Winchester. Two horses + went down; one screamed; the other struggled to his feet, and limped away + with an empty saddle. One of the fallen men sprang into safety behind a + house, and one lay still, with his arms stretched out and his face in the + dust. + </p> + <p> + From behind barn, house, and fence the Lewallens gave back a scattering + fire; but the Stetsons crept closer, and were plainly in greater numbers. + Old Jasper was being surrounded, and he mounted again, and all, followed + by a chorus of bullets and triumphant yells, fled for a wooded slope in + the rear of the court-house. A dozen Lewallens were prisoners, and must + give up or starve. There was savage joy in the Stetson crowd, and + many-footed rumor went all ways that night. + </p> + <p> + Despite sickness and Rome's strict order, Isom had ridden down to the + mill. Standing in the doorway, he and old Gabe saw up the river, where the + water broke into foam over the ford, a riderless gray horse plunging + across. Later it neighed at a gate under Wolf's Head, and Martha Lewallen + ran out to meet it. Across under Thunderstruck Knob that night the old + Stetson mother listened to Isom's story of the fight with ghastly joy in + her death-marked face. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI + </h2> + <p> + ALL night the court-house was guarded and on guard. At one corner of the + square Rufe Stetson, with a few men, sat on watch in old Sam Day's cabin—the + fortress of the town, built for such a purpose, and used for it many times + before. The prisoners, too, were alert, and no Stetson ventured into the + open square, for the moon was high; an exposure anywhere was noted + instantly by the whistle of a rifle-ball, and the mountaineer takes few + risks except under stress of drink or passion. Rome Stetson had placed + pickets about the town wherever surprise was possible. All night he + patrolled the streets to keep his men in such readiness as he could for + the attack that the Lewallens would surely make to rescue their living + friends and to avenge the dead ones. + </p> + <p> + But the triumph was too great and unexpected. Two Braytons were dead; + several more were prisoners with young Jasper in the courthouse; and + drinking began. + </p> + <p> + As the night deepened without attack the Stetsons drank more, and grew + reckless. A dance was started. Music and “moonshine” were given to every + man who bore a Winchester. The night was broken with drunken yells, the + random discharge of fire-arms, and the mono-tone of heavy feet. The two + leaders were helpless, and the inaction of the Lewallens puzzled them. + Chafed with anxiety, they kept their eyes on the court-house or on the + thicket of gloom where their enemies lay. But the woods were as quiet as + the pall of shadows over them. Once Rome, making his rounds, saw a figure + crawling through a field of corn. It looked like Crump's, but before he + could fire the man rolled like a ball down the bushy bank to the river. An + instant later some object went swiftly past a side street-somebody on + horseback-and a picket fired an alarm. The horse kept on, and Rome threw + his rifle on a patch of moonlight, but when the object flashed through, + his finger was numbed at the trigger. In the moonlight the horse looked + gray, and the rider was seated sidewise. A bullet from the court-house + clipped his hat-brim as he ran recklessly across the street to where Steve + Marcum stood in the dark behind old Sam's cabin. + </p> + <p> + “Jim Hale 'll git him as he goes up the road,” said Steve, calmly—and + then with hot impatience, “Why the hell don't he shoot?” + </p> + <p> + Rome started forward in the moonlight, and Steve caught his arm. Two + bullets hissed from the court-house, and he fell back. + </p> + <p> + A shot sounded from the bushes far away from the road. The horse kept on, + and splashed into Troubled Fork, and Steve swore bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “Hit hain't Jim. Hit's that mis'able Bud Vickers; he's been a-stan din' + guard out'n the bushes 'stid o' the road. That was a spy, I tell ye, 'n' + the coward let him in and let him out. They'll know now we're all drunk! + Whut's the matter?” + </p> + <p> + Rome's mouth was half open. He looked white and sick, and Steve thought he + had been hit, but he took off his hat. “Purty close!” he said, with a + laugh, pointing at the bullet-hole through the brim. + </p> + <p> + Steve, unsuspicious, went on: “Hit was a spy, I tell ye. Bud was afeard to + stan' in the road, 'n' I'm goin' out thar 'n' twist his damned neck. We've + got 'em, Rome! I tell ye, we've got 'em! Ef we kin git through this night, + and git the boys sober in the morning, we've got 'em shore!” + </p> + <p> + The night did pass in safety, darkness wore away without attack, and + morning broke on the town in its drunken stupor. Then the curious silence + of the Lewallens was explained. The rumor came that old Jasper was dead, + and it went broadcast. Later, friends coming to the edge of the town for + the bodies of the dead Lewallens confirmed it. A random ball had passed + through old Lewallen's body in the wild flight for the woods, and during + the night he had spent his last breath in a curse against the man who + fired it. + </p> + <p> + Then each Stetson, waked from his drunken sleep, drank again when he heard + of the death. The day bade fair to be like the night, and again the + anxiety of the leaders was edged with fear. Old Jasper dead and young + Jasper a prisoner, the chance was near to end the feud, or there would be + no Lewallen left to lead their enemies. But, again, they were well-nigh + helpless. Already they had barely enough men to guard their prisoners. Of + the Marcums, Steve alone was able to handle a Winchester, and outside the + sounds of the carousal were in the air and growing louder. In a little + while, if the Lewallens but knew it, escape would be easy and the Stetsons + could be driven from the town. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, they know it,” said Steve. “They'll be a-whoopin' down out O' them + woods purty soon, 'n' we re goin to ketch hell. I'd like to know mighty + well who that spy was last night. That cussed Bud Vickers says it was a + ha'nt, on a white hoss, with long hair flyin' in the wind, 'n' that he + shot plumb through it. I jus' wish I'd a had a chance at it.” + </p> + <p> + Still, noon came again without trouble, and the imprisoned Lewallens had + been twenty-four hours without food. Their ammunition was getting scarce. + The firing was less frequent, though the watch was as close as ever, and + twice a Winchester had sounded a signal of distress. All knew that a + response must come soon; and come it did. A picket, watching the river + road, saw young Jasper's horse coming along the dark bushes far up the + river, and brought the news to the group standing behind old Sam's cabin. + The gray galloped into sight, and, skirting the woods, came straight for + the town-with a woman on his back. The stirrup of a man's saddle dangled + on one side, and the woman's bonnet had fallen from her head. Some one + challenged her. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, I tell ye! Don't ye go near that courthouse! Stop, I tell ye! I'll + shoot! Stop!” + </p> + <p> + Rome ran from the cabin with a revolver in each hand. A drunken + mountaineer was raising a Winchester to his shoulder, and, springing from + the back of the gray at the court-house steps, was Martha Lewallen. + </p> + <p> + “I'll kill the fust man that lifts his finger to hurt the gal,” Rome said, + knocking the drunken man's gun in the air. “We hain't fightin' women!” + </p> + <p> + It was too late to oppose her, and the crowd stood helplessly watching. No + one dared approach, so, shielding with her body the space of the opening + door, she threw the sack of food within. Then she stood a moment talking + and, turning, climbed to her saddle. The gray was spotted with foam, and + showed the red of his nostrils with every breath as, with face flushed and + eyes straight before her, she rode slowly toward the crowd. What was she + about? Rome stood rigid, his forgotten pistols hanging at each side; the + mouth of the drunken mountaineer was open with stupid wonder; the rest + fell apart as she came around the corner of the cabin and, through the + space given, rode slowly, her skirt almost brushing Rome, looking neither + to the right nor to the left; and when she had gone quite through them + all, she wheeled and rode, still slowly, through the open fields toward + the woods which sheltered the Lewallens, while the crowd stood in + bewildered silence looking after her. Yells of laughter came from the old + court-house. Some of the Stetsons laughed, too; some swore, a few + grumbled; but there was not one who was not stirred by the superb daring + of the girl, though she had used it only to show her contempt. + </p> + <p> + “Rome, you're a fool; though, fer a fac', we can't shoot a woman; 'n' + anyways I ruther shoot her than the hoss. But lemme tell ye, thar was + more'n sump'n to eat in that bag! They air up to some dodge.” + </p> + <p> + Rufe Stetson had watched the incident through a port-hole of the cabin, + and his tone was at once jesting and anxious. + </p> + <p> + “That grub won't last more'n one day, I reckon,” said the drunken + mountaineer. “We'll watch out fer the gal nex' time. We're boun' to git + 'em one time or t'other.” + </p> + <p> + “She rid through us to find out how many of us wasn't dead drunk,” said + Steve Marcum, still watching the girl as she rode on, toward the woods; + “'n' I'm a-thinkin' they'll be down on us purty soon now, 'n' I reckon + we'll have to run fer it. Look thar boys!” + </p> + <p> + The girl had stopped at the edge of the woods; facing the town, she waved + her bonnet high above her head. + </p> + <p> + “Well, whut in the—!” he said, with slow emphasis, and then he + leaped from the door with a yell. The bonnet was a signal to the + beleaguered Lewallens. The rear door of the courthouse had been quietly + opened, and the prisoners were out in a body and scrambling over the fence + before the pickets could give an alarm. The sudden yells, the crack of + Winchesters, startled even the revellers and all who could, headed by Rome + and Steve Marcum, sprang into the square, and started in pursuit. But the + Lewallens had got far ahead, and were running in zigzag lines to dodge the + balls flying after them. Half-way to the woods was a gully of red clay, + and into this the fleetest leaped, and turned instantly to cover their + comrades. The Winchesters began to rattle from the woods, and the bullets + came like rain from everywhere. + </p> + <p> + “T-h-up! T-h-up! T-h-up!” there were three of them—the peculiar + soft, dull messages of hot lead to living flesh. A Stetson went down; + another stumbled; Rufe Stetson, climbing the fence, caught at his breast + with an oath, and fell back. Rome and Steve dropped for safety to the + ground. Every other Stetson turned in a panic, and every Lewallen in the + gully leaped from it, and ran under the Lewallen fire for shelter in the + woods. The escape was over. + </p> + <p> + “That was a purty neat trick,” said Steve, wiping a red streak from his + cheek. “Nex' time she tries that, she'll git herself into trouble.” + </p> + <p> + At nightfall the wounded leader and the dead one were carried up the + mountain, each to his home; and there was mourning far into the night on + one bank of the Cumberland, and, serious though Rufe Stetson's wound was, + exultation on the other. But in it Rome could take but little part. There + had been no fault to find with him in the fight. But a reaction had set in + when he saw the girl flash in the moonlight past the sights of his + Winchester, and her face that day had again loosed within him a flood of + feeling that drove the lust for revenge from his veins. Even now, while he + sat in his own cabin, his 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XII + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 + descent 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. + </p> + <p> + “Stop thar!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “Drap that gun!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “Seem kinder s'prised to see me,” said the Stetson, grimly. “Hev ye got a + pistol?” + </p> + <p> + Young Jasper glared at him in helpless ferocity. + </p> + <p> + “Naw!” + </p> + <p> + “Knife?” + </p> + <p> + He drew a long-bladed penknife from his pocket, and tossed it at Rome's + feet. + </p> + <p> + “Jes' move over thar, will ye?” + </p> + <p> + The Lewallen took his stand against the cliff. Rome picked up the fallen + rifle and leaned it against the ledge. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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? + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon I'll trust ye,” he said, at last, more through confidence in his + own strength than faith in his enemy; for 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Jas, we'll fight this gredge out, as our grandads have done afore + us.” + </p> + <p> + Lewallen and Stetson were man to man at last. Suspicion was gone now, and + a short, brutal laugh came from the cliff. + </p> + <p> + “I'll fight ye! Oh, by God, I'll fight ye!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “'Nough?” he asked, hoarsely. It was the first word uttered. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “'Nough?” asked the hoarse voice again. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “'Nough!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + The sun was blazing above Wolf's Head now, and the stillness about them + lay unbroken on the woods below. + </p> + <p> + “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? + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Oh—!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Rome,” said the boy, in a quick whisper, “is he daid?” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIII + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 the northern 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 and gold of new leaves and + sunlight; and higher still waved the poplar blooms, with honey ready on + every crimson heart for the bees. Down in the valley Rome Stetson could + see about every little cabin pink clouds and white clouds of peach and of + apple blossoms. Amid the ferns about him shade-loving trilliums showed + their many-hued faces, and every opening was thickly peopled with larkspur + seeking the sun. The giant magnolia and the umbrella-tree spread their + great creamy flowers; the laurel shook out myriads of pink and white + bells, and the queen of mountain flowers was stirring from sleep in the + buds of the rhododendron. + </p> + <p> + With the spring new forces pulsed the mountain air. The spirit of the + times reached even Hazlan. A railroad was coming up the river, so the + rumor was. When winter broke, surveyors had appeared; after them, mining + experts and purchasers of land. New ways of bread-making were open to all, + and the feudsman began to see that he could make food and clothes more + easily and with less danger than by sleeping with his rifle in the woods, + and by fighting men who had done him no harm. Many were tired of fighting; + many, forced into the feud, had fought unwillingly. Others had sold their + farms and wild lands, and were moving toward the Blue Grass or westward. + The desperadoes of each faction had fled the law or were in its clutches. + The last Lewallen was dead; the last Stetson was hidden away in the + mountains. There were left Mareums and Braytons, but only those who felt + safest from indictment; in these a spirit of hostility would live for + years, and, roused by passion or by drink, would do murder now on one side + of the Cumberland and now on the other; but the Stetson-Lewallen feud, old + Gabe believed, was at an end at last. + </p> + <p> + All these things the miller told Rome Stetson, who well knew what they + meant. He was safe enough from the law while the people took no part in + his capture, but he grew apprehensive when he learned of the changes going + on in the valley. None but old Gabe knew where he was, to be sure, but + with his own enemies to guide the soldiers he could not hope to remain + hidden long. Still, with that love of the mountains characteristic of all + races born among them, he clung to his own land. He would rather stay + where he was the space of a year and die, he told old Gabe passionately, + than live to old age in another State. + </p> + <p> + But there was another motive, and he did not hide it. On the other side he + had one enemy left—the last, too, of her race—who was more to + him than his own dead kindred, who hated him, who placed at his door all + her sorrows. For her he was living like a wolf in a cave, and old Gabe + knew it. Her he would not leave. + </p> + <p> + “I tell ye, Rome, you've got to go. Thar's no use talkin'. Court comes the + fust Monday in June. The soldiers ull be hyeh. Hit won't be safe. Thar's + some that s'picions I know whar ye air now, 'n' they'll be spyin', 'n' + mebbe hit'll git me into trouble, too, aidin' 'n' abettin' a man to git + away who air boun' to the law.” + </p> + <p> + The two were sitting on the earthen floor of the cave before a little + fire, and Rome, with his hands about his knees and his brows knitted, was + staring into the yellow blaze. His unshorn hair fell to his shoulders; his + face was pale from insufficient food and exercise, and tense with a look + that was at once caged and defiant. + </p> + <p> + “Uncle Gabe,” he asked, quietly, for the old man's tone was a little + querulous, “air ye sorry ye holped me? Do ye blame me fer whut I've done?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the old miller, answering both questions; “I don't. I believe + whut ye tol' me. Though, even ef ye had 'a' done it, I don't know as I'd + blame ye, seem' that it was a fa'r fight. I don't doubt he was doin' his + best to kill you.” + </p> + <p> + Rome turned quickly, his face puzzled and darkening. + </p> + <p> + “Uncle Gabe, whut air you drivin' at?” The old man spat into the fire, and + shifted his position uneasily, as Rome's hand caught his knee. + </p> + <p> + “Well, ef I have to tell ye, I s'pose I must. Thar's been nothin' + pertickler ag'in ye so fer, 'cept fer breakin' that confederatin' statute + 'bout bandin' fightin' men together; 'n' nobody was very anxious to git + hol' o' ye jes fer that, but now”—the old man stopped a moment, for + Rome's eyes were kindling—“they say that ye killed Jas Lew allen, + 'n' that ye air a murderer; 'n' hit air powerful strange how all of a + suddint folks seem to be gittin' down on a man as kills his + fellow-creetur; 'n' now they means to hunt ye til they ketch ye.” + </p> + <p> + It was all out now, and the old man was relieved. Rome rose to his feet, + and in sheer agony of spirit paced the floor. + </p> + <p> + “I tol' ye, Uncle Gabe, that I didn't kill him.” + </p> + <p> + “So ye did, 'n' I believe ye. But a feller seed you 'n' Steve comm' from + the place whar Jas was found dead, 'n' whar the dirt 'n' rock was throwed + about as by two bucks in spring-time. Steve says he didn't do it, 'n' he + wouldn't say you didn't. Looks to me like Steve did the killn', 'n' was + lyin' a leetle. He hain't goin' to confess hit to save your neck; 'n' he + can't no way, fer he hev lit out o' these mount'ins—long ago.” + </p> + <p> + If Steve was out of danger, suspicion could not harm him, and Rome said + nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Isom's got the lingerin' fever ag'in, 'n' he's outin his head. He's + ravin' 'bout that fight. Looks like ye tol' him 'bout it. He says,' Don't + tell Uncle Gabe'; 'n' he keeps sayin' it. Hit'll 'most kill him ef you go + 'way; but he wants ye to git out o' the mount'ins; 'n', Rome, you've got + to go.” + </p> + <p> + “Who was it, Uncle Gabe, that seed me 'n' Steve comm' 'way from thar?” + </p> + <p> + “He air the same feller who hev been spyin' ye all the time this war's + been goin' on; hit's that dried-faced, snaky Eli Crump, who ye knocked + down 'n' choked up in Hazlan one day fer sayin' something ag'in Isom.” + </p> + <p> + “I knowed it—I knowed it—oh, ef I could git my fingers roun' + his throat once more—jes once more—I'd be 'mos' ready to die.” + </p> + <p> + He stretched out his hands as he strode back and forth, with his fingers + crooked like talons; his shadow leaped from wall to wall, and his voice, + filling the cave, was, for the moment, scarcely human. The old man waited + till the paroxysm was over and Rome had again sunk before the fire. + </p> + <p> + “Hit 'u'd do no good, Rome,” he said, rising to go. “You've got enough on + ye now, without the sin o' takin' his life. You better make up yer mind to + leave the mountins now right 'way. You're a-gittin' no more'n half-human, + livin' up hyeh like a catamount. I don't see how ye kin stand it. Thar's + no hope o' things blowin' over, boy, 'n' givin' ye a chance o' comm' out + ag'in, as yer dad and yer grandad usen to do afore ye. The citizens air + gittin' tired o' these wars. They keeps out the furriners who makes roads + 'n' buys lands; they air ag'in' the law, ag'in' religion, ag'in' yo' + pocket, 'n' ag'in' mine. Lots o' folks hev been ag'in' all this fightin' + fer a long time, but they was too skeery to say so. They air talkin' + mighty big now, seem' they kin git soldiers hyeh to pertect 'em. So ye + mought as well give up the idea o' staying hyeh, 'less'n ye want to give + yourself up to the law.” + </p> + <p> + The two stepped from the cave, and passed through the rhododendrons till + they stood on the cliff overlooking the valley. The rich light lay like a + golden mist between the mountains, and through it, far down, the river + moaned like the wind of a coming storm. + </p> + <p> + “Did ye tell the gal whut I tol' ye?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Rome; hit wasn't no use. She says Steve's word's as good as yourn; + 'n' she knowed about the crosses. Folks say she swore awful ag'in' ye at + young Jas's burial, 'lowin' that she'd hunt ye down herse'f, ef the + soldiers didn't ketch ye. I hain't seed her sence she got sick; 'pears + like ever'body's sick. Mebbe she's a leetle settled down now—no + tellin'. No use foolin' with her, Rome. You git away from hyeh. Don't you + worry 'bout Isom—I'll take keer o' him, 'n' when he gits well, he'll + want to come atter ye, 'n' I'll let him go. He couldn't live hyeh without + you. But y'u must git away, Rome, 'n' git away mighty quick.” + </p> + <p> + With hands clasped behind him, Rome stood and watched the bent figure + slowly pick its way around the stony cliff. + </p> + <p> + “I reckon I've got to go. She's ag'in' me; they're all ag'in' me. I reckon + I've jes got to go. Somehow, I've been kinder hopin'—” He closed his + lips to check the groan that rose to them, and turned again into the gloom + behind him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIV + </h2> + <p> + JUNE came. The wild rose swayed above its image along every little + shadowed stream, and the scent of wild grapes was sweet in the air and as + vagrant as a bluebird's note in autumn. The rhododendrons burst into + beauty, making gray ridge and gray cliff blossom with purple, hedging + streams with snowy clusters and shining leaves, and lighting up dark + coverts in the woods as with white stars. The leaves were full, + woodthrushes sang, and bees droned like unseen running water in the woods. + </p> + <p> + With June came circuit court once more-and the soldiers. Faint music + pierced the dreamy chant of the river one morning as Rome lay on a bowlder + in the summer sun; and he watched the guns flashing like another stream + along the water, and then looked again to the Lewallen cabin. Never, + morning, noon, or night, when he came from the rhododendrons, or when they + closed about him, did he fail to turn his eyes that way. Often he would + see a bright speck moving about the dim lines of the cabin, and he would + scarcely breathe while he watched it, so easily would it disappear. Always + he had thought it was Martha, and now he knew it was, for the old miller + had told him more of the girl, and had wrung his heart with pity. She had + been ill a long while. The “furriners” had seized old Jasper's cabin and + land. The girl was homeless, and she did not know it, for no one had the + heart to tell her. She was living with the Braytons; and every day she + went to the cabin, “moonin'n' sorrowin' aroun',” as old Gabe said; and she + was much changed. + </p> + <p> + Once more the miller came-for the last time, he said, firmly. Crump had + trailed him, and had learned where Rome was. The search would begin next + day-perhaps that very night-and Crump would guide the soldiers. Now he + must go, and go quickly. The boy, too, sent word that unless Rome went, he + would have something to tell. Old Gabe saw no significance in the message; + but he had promised to deliver it, and he did. Rome wavered then; Steve + and himself gone, no suspicion would fall on the lad. If he were caught, + the boy might confess. With silence Rome gave assent, and the two parted + in an apathy that was like heartlessness. Only old Gabe's shrunken breast + heaved with something more than weariness of descent, and Rome stood + watching him a long time before he turned back to the cave that had + sheltered him from his enemies among beasts and men. In a moment he came + out for the last time, and turned the opposite way. Climbing about the + spur, he made for the path that led down to the river. When he reached it + he glanced at the sun, and stopped in indecision. Straight above him was a + knoll, massed with rhododendrons, the flashing leaves of which made it + like a great sea-wave in the slanting sun, while the blooms broke slowly + down over it like foam. Above this was a gray sepulchre of dead, standing + trees, more gaunt and spectre-like than ever, with the rich life of summer + about it. Higher still were a dark belt of stunted firs and the sandstone + ledge, and above these-home. He was risking his liberty, his life. Any + clump of bushes might bristle suddenly with Winchesters. If the soldiers + sought for him at the cave they would at the same time guard the mountain + paths; they would guard, too, the Stetson cabin. But no matter-the sun was + still high, and he turned up the steep. The ledge passed, he stopped with + a curse at his lips and the pain of a knife-thrust at his heart. A heap of + blackened stones and ashes was before him. The wild mountain-grass was + growing up about it. The bee-gums were overturned and rifled. The garden + was a tangled mass of weeds. The graves in the little family + burying-ground were unprotected, the fence was gone, and no boards marked + the last two ragged mounds. Old Gabe had never told him. He, too, like + Martha, was homeless, and the old miller had been kind to him, as the + girl's kinspeople had been to her. + </p> + <p> + For a long while he sat on the remnant of the burned and broken fence, and + once more the old tide of bitterness rose within him and ebbed away. There + were none left to hate, to wreak vengeance on. It was hard to leave the + ruins as they were; and yet he would rather leave weeds and ashes than, + like Martha, have some day to know that his home was in the hands of a + stranger. When he thought of the girl he grew calmer; his own sorrows gave + way to the thought of hers; and half from habit he raised his face to look + across the river. Two eagles swept from a dark ravine under the shelf of + rock where he had fought young Jasper, and made for a sun-lighted peak on + the other shore. From them his gaze fell to Wolf's Head and to the cabin + beneath, and a name passed his lips in a whisper. + </p> + <p> + Then he took the path to the river, and he found the canoe where old Gabe + had hidden it. Before the young moon rose he pushed into the stream and + drifted with the current. At the mouth of the creek that ran over old + Gabe's water-wheel he turned the prow to the Lewallen shore. + </p> + <p> + “Not yit! Not yit!” he said. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XV + </h2> + <p> + THAT night Rome passed in the woods, with his rifle, in a bed of leaves. + Before daybreak he had built a fire in a deep ravine to cook his + breakfast, and had scattered the embers that the smoke should give no + sign. The sun was high when he crept cautiously in sight of the Lewallen + cabin. It was much like his own home on the other shore, except that the + house, closed and desolate, was standing, and the bees were busy. At the + corner of the kitchen a rusty axe was sticking in a half-cut piece of + timber, and on the porch was a heap of kindling and fire wood-the last + work old Jasper and his son had ever done. In the Lewallens' garden, also, + two graves were fresh; and the spirit of neglect and ruin overhung the + place. + </p> + <p> + All the morning he waited in the edge of the laurel, peering down the + path, watching the clouds race with their shadows over the mountains, or + pacing to and fro in his covert of leaves and flowers. He began to fear at + last that she was not coming, that she was ill, and once he started down + the mountain toward Steve Brayton's cabin. The swift descent brought him + to his senses, and he stopped half-way, and climbed back again to his + hiding-place. What he was doing, what he meant to do, he hardly knew. + Mid-day passed; the sun fell toward the mountains, and once more came the + fierce impulse to see her, even though he must stalk into the Brayton + cabin. Again, half-crazed, he started impetuously through the brush, and + shrank back, and stood quiet. A little noise down the path had reached his + ear. In a moment he could hear slow foot-falls, and the figure of the girl + parted the pink-and-white laurel blossoms, which fell in a shower about + her when she brushed through them. She passed quite near him, walking + slowly, and stopped for a moment to rest against a pillar of the porch. + She was very pale; her face was traced deep with suffering, and she was, + as old Gabe said, much changed. Then she went on toward the garden, + stepping with an effort over the low fence, and leaned as if weak and + tired against the apple-tree, the boughs of which shaded the two graves at + her feet. For a few moments she stood there, listless, and Rome watched + her with hungry eyes, at a loss what to do. She moved presently, and + walked quite around the graves without looking at them; then came back + past him, and, seating herself in the porch, turned her face to the river. + The sun lighted her hair, and in the sunken, upturned eyes Rome saw the + shimmer of tears. + </p> + <p> + “Marthy!” He couldn't help it—the thick, low cry broke like a groan + from his lips, and the girl was on her feet, facing him. She did not know + the voice, nor the shaggy, half-wild figure in the shade of the laurel; + and she started back as if to run; but seeing that the man did not mean to + harm her, she stopped, looking for a moment with wonder and even with + quick pity at the hunted face with its white appeal. Then a sudden spasm + caught her throat, and left her body rigid, her hands shut, and her eyes + dry and hard—she knew him. A slow pallor drove the flush of surprise + from her face, and her lips moved once, but there was not even a whisper + from them. Rome raised one hand before his face, as though to ward off + something. “Don't look at me that way, Marthy—my God, don't! I + didn't kill him. I sw'ar it! I give him a chance fer his life. I know, I + know—Steve says he didn't. Thar was only us two. Hit looks ag'in' + me; but I hain't killed one nur t'other. I let 'em both go. Y'u don't + believe me?” He went swiftly toward her, his gun outstretched. “Hyeh, gal! + I heerd ye swore ag' in' me out thar in the gyarden—'lowin' that you + was goin' to hunt me down yerself if the soldiers didn't. Hyeh's yer + chance!” + </p> + <p> + The girl shrank away from him, too startled to take the weapon; and he + leaned it against her, and stood away, with his hands behind him. + </p> + <p> + “Kill me ef ye think I'm a-lyin' to ye,” he said. “Y'u kin git even with + me now. But I want to tell ye fust”—the girl had caught the muzzle + of the gun convulsively, and was bending over it, her eyes burning, her + face inscrutable—“hit was a fa'r fight betwixt us, 'n' I whooped + him. He got his gun then, 'n' would 'a' killed me ag'in' his oath ef he + hadn't been shot fust. Hit's so, too, 'bout the crosses. I made 'em; + they're right thar on that gun; but whut could I do with mam a-standin' + right thar with the gun 'n' Uncle Rufe a-tellin' 'bout my own dad layin' + in his blood, 'n' Isom 'n' the boys lookin' on! But I went ag'in' my oath; + I gave him his life when I had the right to take it. I could 'a' killed + yer dad once, 'n' I had the right to kill him, too, fer killin' mine; but + I let him go, 'n' I reckon I done that fer ye, too. 'Pears like I hain't + done nothin' sence I seed ye over thar in the mill that day that wasn't + done fer ye. Somehow ye put me dead ag'in' my own kin, 'n' tuk away all my + hate ag'in' yourn. I couldn't fight fer thinkin' I was fightin' you, 'n' + when I seed ye comm' through the bushes jes now, so white 'n' sickly-like, + I couldn't hardly git breath, a-thinkin' I was the cause of all yer + misery. That's all!” He stretched out his arms. “Shoot, gal, ef ye don't + believe me. I'd jes as lieve die, ef ye thinks I'm lyin' to ye, 'n' ef ye + hates me fer whut I hain't done.” + </p> + <p> + The gun had fallen to the earth. The girl, trembling at the knees, sank to + her seat on the porch, and, folding her arms against the pillar, pressed + her forehead against them, her face unseen. Rome stooped to pick up the + weapon. + </p> + <p> + “I'm goin' 'way now,” he went on, slowly, after a little pause, “but I + couldn't leave hyeh without seem' you. I wanted ye to know the truth, 'n' + I 'lowed y'u'd believe me ef I tol' ye myself. I've been a-waitin' thar in + the lorrel fer ye sence mornin'. Uncle Gabe tol' me ye come hyeh ever' + day. He says I've got to go. I've been hopin' I mought come out o' the + bushes some day. But Uncle Gabe says ever'body's ag'in' me more' n ever, + 'n' that the soldiers mean to ketch me. The gov'ner out thar in the + settlements says as how he'll give five hundred dollars fer me, livin' or + dead. He'll nuver git me livin'—I've swore that—'n' as I hev + done nothin' sech as folks on both sides hev done who air walkin' roun' + free, I hain't goin' to give up. Hit's purty hard to leave these + mount'ins. Reckon I'll nuver see 'em ag'in. Been livin' like a catamount + over thar on the knob. I could jes see you over hyeh, 'n' I reckon I + hain't done much 'cept lay over thar on a rock 'n' watch ye movin' round. + Hit's mighty good to feel that ye believe me, 'n' I want ye to know that I + been stayin' over thar fer nothin' on earth but jes to see you ag'in; 'n' + I want ye to know that I was a-sorrowin' fer ye when y'u was sick, 'n' + a-pinin' to see ye, 'n' a-hopin' some day y'u mought kinder git over yer + hate fer me.” He had been talking with low tenderness, half to himself, + and with his face to the river, and he did not see the girl's tears + falling to the porch. Her sorrow gave way in a great sob now, and he + turned with sharp remorse, and stood quite near her. + </p> + <p> + “Don't cry, Marthy,” he said. “God knows hit's hard to think I've brought + all this on ye when I'd give all these mount'ins to save ye from it. Whut + d' ye say? Don't cry.” + </p> + <p> + The girl was trying to speak at last, and Rome bent over to catch the + words. + </p> + <p> + “I hain't cryin' fer myself,” she said, faintly, and then she said no + more; but the first smile that had passed over Rome's face for many a day + passed then, and he put out one big hand, and let it rest on the heap of + lustrous hair. + </p> + <p> + “Marthy, I hate to go 'way, leavin' ye hyeh with nobody to take keer o' + ye. You're all alone hyeh in the mount'ins; I'm all alone; 'n' I reckon + I'll be all alone wharever I go, ef you stay hyeh. I got a boat down thar + on the river, 'n' I'm goin' out West whar Uncle Rufe use to live. I know I + hain't good fer nothin' much”—he spoke almost huskily; he could + scarcely get the words to his lips—“but I want ye to go with me. + Won't ye?” + </p> + <p> + The girl did not answer, but her sobbing ceased slowly, while Rome stroked + her hair; and at last she lifted her face, and for a moment looked to the + other shore. Then she rose. There is a strange pride in the Kentucky + mountaineer. + </p> + <p> + “As you say, Rome, thar's nobody left but you, 'n' nobody but me; but they + burned you out, we hain't even—yit.” Her eyes were on Thunderstruck + Knob, where the last sunlight used to touch the Stetson cabin. + </p> + <p> + “Hyeh, Rome!” He knew what she meant, and he kneeled at the pile of + kindling-wood near the kitchen door. Then they stood back and waited. The + sun dipped below a gap in the mountains, the sky darkened, and the flames + rose to the shingled porch, and leaped into the gathering dusk. On the + outer edge of the quivering light, where it touched the blossomed laurel, + the two stood till the blaze caught the eaves of the cabin; and then they + turned their faces where, burning to ashes in the west, was another fire, + whose light blended in the eyes of each with a light older and more + lasting than its own—the light eternal. + </p> + <p> + THE END <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox, Jr. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA *** + +***** This file should be named 3022-h.htm or 3022-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/2/3022/ + +Produced by David Reed, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Cumberland Vendetta + +Author: John Fox, Jr. + +Release Date: January, 2002 [Etext #3022] +Posting Date: October 9, 2009 [EBook #3022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA *** + + + + +Produced by David Reed + + + + + + + + +A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA + +By John Fox Jr. + + +TO MINERVA AND ELIZABETH + + + + +I + +THE cave had been their hiding-place as children; it was a secret refuge +now against hunger or darkness when they were hunting in the woods. The +primitive meal was finished; ashes were raked over the red coals; the +slice of bacon and the little bag of meal were hung high against +the rock wall; and the two stepped from the cavern into a thicket of +rhododendrons. + +Parting the bushes toward the dim light, they stood on a massive +shoulder of the mountain, the river girding it far below, and the +afternoon shadows at their feet. Both carried guns-the tall mountaineer, +a Winchester; the boy, a squirrel rifle longer than himself. Climbing +about the rocky spur, they kept the same level over log and bowlder and +through bushy ravine to the north. In half an hour, they ran into a path +that led up home from the river, and they stopped to rest on a cliff +that sank in a solid black wall straight under them. The sharp edge of a +steep corn-field ran near, and, stripped of blade and tassel, the stalks +and hooded ears looked in the coming dusk a little like monks at prayer. +In the sunlight across the river the corn stood thin and frail. Over +there a drought was on it; and when drifting thistle-plumes marked the +noontide of the year, each yellow stalk had withered blades and an empty +sheath. Everywhere a look of vague trouble lay upon the face of the +mountains, and when the wind blew, the silver of the leaves showed +ashen. Autumn was at hand. + +There was no physical sign of kinship between the two, half-brothers +though they were. The tall one was dark; the boy, a foundling, had +flaxen hair, and was stunted and slender. He was a dreamy-looking little +fellow, and one may easily find his like throughout the Cumberland-paler +than his fellows, from staying much indoors, with half-haunted face, and +eyes that are deeply pathetic when not cunning; ignorantly credited with +idiocy and uncanny powers; treated with much forbearance, some awe, and +a little contempt; and suffered to do his pleasure-nothing, or much that +is strange-without comment. + +"I tell ye, Rome," he said, taking up the thread of talk that was broken +at the cave, "when Uncle Gabe says he's afeard thar's trouble comm', +hit's a-comm'; 'n' I want you to git me a Winchester. I'm a-gittin' big +enough now. I kin shoot might' nigh as good as you, 'n' whut am I fit +fer with this hyeh old pawpaw pop-gun?" + +"I don't want you fightin', boy, I've told ye. Y'u air too little 'n' +puny, 'n' I want ye to stay home 'n' take keer o' mam 'n' the cattle-ef +fightin' does come, I reckon thar won't be triuch." + +"Don't ye?" cried the boy, with sharp contempt--"with ole Jas Lewallen +a-devilin' Uncle Rufe, 'n' that blackheaded young Jas a-climbin' on +stumps over thar 'cross the river, n' crowin' n' sayin' out open in +Hazlan that ye air afeard o him? Yes; 'n' he called me a idgit." The +boy's voice broke into a whimper of rage. + +"Shet up, Isom! Don't you go gittin' mad now. You'll be sick ag'in. I'll +tend to him when the time comes." Rome spoke with rough kindness, but +ugly lines had gathered at his mouth and forehead. The boy's tears came +and went easily. He drew his sleeve across his eyes, and looked up the +river. Beyond the bend, three huge birds rose into the sunlight and +floated toward them. Close at hand, they swerved side-wise. + +"They hain't buzzards," he said, standing up, his anger gone; "look at +them straight wings!" + +Again the eagles swerved, and two shot across the river. The third +dropped with shut wings to the bare crest of a gaunt old poplar under +them. + +"Hit's a young un, Romey," said the boy, excitedly. "He's goin' to wait +thar tell the old uns come back. Gimme that gun!" + +Catching up the Winchester, he slipped over the ledge; and Rome leaned +suddenly forward, looking down at the river. + +A group of horsemen had ridden around the bend, and were coming at +a walk down the other shore. Every man carried something across his +saddle-bow. There was a gray horse among them--young Jasper's--and an +evil shadow came into Rome's face, and quickly passed. Near a strip of +woods the gray turned up the mountain from the party, and on its back he +saw the red glint of a woman's dress. With a half-smile he watched the +scarlet figure ride from the woods, and climb slowly up through the +sunny corn. On the spur above and full in the rich yellow light, she +halted, half turning in her saddle. He rose to his feet, to his full +height, his head bare, and thrown far back between his big shoulders, +and, still as statues, the man and the woman looked at each other across +the gulf of darkening air. A full minute the woman sat motionless, then +rode on. At the edge of the woods she stopped and turned again. + +The eagle under Rome leaped one stroke in the air, and dropped like a +clod into the sea of leaves. The report of the gun and a faint cry of +triumph rose from below. It was good marksmanship, but on the cliff Rome +did not heed it. Something had fluttered in the air above the girl's +head, and he laughed aloud. She was waving her bonnet at him. + + + + +II + +JUST where young Stetson stood, the mountains racing along each bank of +the Cumberland had sent out against each other, by mutual impulse, +two great spurs. At the river's brink they stopped sheer, with crests +uplifted, as though some hand at the last moment had hurled them apart, +and had led the water through the breach to keep them at peace. To-day +the crags looked seamed by thwarted passion; and, sullen with firs, they +made fit symbols of the human hate about the base of each. + +When the feud began, no one knew. Even the original cause was forgotten. +Both families had come as friends from Virginia long ago, and had lived +as enemies nearly half a century. There was hostility before the +war, but, until then, little bloodshed. Through the hatred of change, +characteristic of the mountaineer the world over, the Lewallens were for +the Union. The Stetsons owned a few slaves, and they fought for them. +Peace found both still neighbors and worse foes. The war armed them, +and brought back an ancestral contempt for human life; it left them a +heritage of lawlessness that for mutual protection made necessary the +very means used by their feudal forefathers; personal hatred supplanted +its dead issues, and with them the war went on. The Stetsons had a good +strain of Anglo-Saxon blood, and owned valley-lands; the Lewallens +kept store and made "moonshine"; so kindred and debtors and kindred and +tenants were arrayed with one or the other leader, and gradually the +retainers of both settled on one or the other side of the river. In time +of hostility the Cumberland came to be the boundary between life and +death for the dwellers on each shore. It was feudalism born again. + +Above one of the spurs each family had its home; the Stetsons, under +the seared face of Thunderstruck Knob; the Lewallens, just beneath the +wooded rim of Wolf's Head. The eaves and chimney of each cabin were +faintly visible from the porch of the other. The first light touched the +house of the Stetsons; the last, the Lewallen cabin. So there were times +when the one could not turn to the sunrise nor the other to the sunset +but with a curse in his heart, for his eye must fall on the home of his +enemy. + +For years there had been peace. The death of Rome Stetson's father from +ambush, and the fight in the court-house square, had forced it. After +that fight only four were left-old Jasper Lewallen and young Jasper, the +boy Rome and his uncle, Rufe Stetson. Then Rufe fled to the West, and +the Stetsons were helpless. For three years no word was heard of him, +but the hatred burned in the heart of Rome's mother, and was traced deep +in her grim old face while she patiently waited the day of retribution. +It smouldered, too, in the hearts of the women of both clans who had +lost husbands or sons or lovers; and the friends and kin of each had +little to do with one another, and met and passed with watchful eyes. +Indeed, it would take so little to turn peace to war that the wonder was +that peace had lived so long. Now trouble was at hand. Rufe Stetson had +come back at last, a few 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 battle-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 open the war, +and they believed Rufe had gone for arms. So they had chafed in the +store all day, and all day Lewallens on horseback and on foot were in +sight; and each was a taunt to every Stetson, and, few as they were, +the young and hot-headed wanted to go out and fight. In the afternoon +a tale-bearer had brought some of Jasper's boasts to Rome, and, made +reckless by moonshine and much brooding, he sprang up to lead them. +Steve Marcum, too, caught up his gun, but old Sam's counsel checked him, +and the two by force held Rome back. A little later the Lewallens left +town. The Stetsons, too, disbanded, and on the way home a last drop of +gall ran Rome's cup of bitterness over. Opposite Steve Brayton's cabin +a jet of smoke puffed from the bushes across the river, and a bullet +furrowed the road in front of him. That was the shot they had heard at +the mill. Somebody was drawing a dead-line, and Rome wheeled his horse +at the brink of it. A mocking yell came over the river, and a gray horse +flashed past an open space in the bushes. Rome knew the horse and +knew the yell; young Jasper was "bantering" him. Nothing maddens the +mountaineer like this childish method of insult; and telling of it, Rome +sat in a corner, and loosed a torrent of curses against young Lewallen +and his clan. + +Old Gabe had listened without a word, and the strain in his face was +eased. Always the old man had stood for peace. He believed it had come +after the court-house fight, and he had hoped against hope, even +when Rufe came back to trade against old Jasper; for Rufe was big and +good-natured, and unsuspected of resolute purpose, and the Lewallens' +power had weakened. So, now that Rufe was gone again, the old miller +half believed he was gone for good. Nobody was hurt; there was a chance +yet for peace, and with a rebuke on his tongue and relief in his face, +the old man sat back in his chair and went on whittling. The boy +turned eagerly to a crevice in the logs and, trembling with excitement, +searched the other bank for Jasper's gray horse, going home. + +"He called me a idgit," he said to himself, with a threatening shake of +his head. "Jes wouldn't I like to hev a chance at him! Rome ull git him! +Rome ull git him!" + +There was no moving point of white on the broad face of the mountains +nor along the river road. Jasper was yet to come and, with ears alert +to every word behind him, the lad fixed his eyes where he should see him +first. + +"Oh, he didn't mean to hit me. Not that he ain't mean enough to shoot +from the bresh," Rome broke out savagely. "That's jes whut I'm afeard +he will do. Thar was too much daylight fer him. Ef he jes don't come +a-sneakin' over hyeh, 'n' waitin' in the lorrel atter dark fer me, it's +all I axe." + +"Waitin' in the lorrel!" Old Gabe could hold back no longer. "Hit's a +shame, a burn-in' shame! I don' know whut things air comm' to! 'Pears +like all you young folks think about is killin' somebody. Folks usen +to talk about how fer they could kill a deer; now it's how fer they kin +kill a man. I hev knowed the time when a man would 'a' been druv out +o' the county fer drawin' a knife ur a pistol; 'n' ef a feller was ever +killed, it was kinder accidental, by a Barlow. I reckon folks got use' +to weepons 'n' killin' 'n' bushwhackin' in the war. Looks like it's been +gittin' wuss ever sence, 'n' now hit's dirk 'n' Winchester, 'n' shootin' +from the bushes all the time. Hit's wuss 'n stealin' money to take a +feller-creetur' s life that way!" + +The old miller's indignation sprang from memories of a better youth. For +the courtesies of the code went on to the Blue Grass, and before the +war the mountaineer fought with English fairness and his fists. It was a +disgrace to use a deadly weapon in those days; it was a disgrace now not +to use it. + +"Oh, I know all the excuses folks make," he went on: "hit's fa'r fer one +as 'tis fer t'other; y'u can't fight a man fa'r 'n' squar' who'll shoot +you in the back; a pore man can't fight money in the couhts; 'n' thar +hain't no witnesses in the lorrel but leaves; 'n' dead men don't hev +much to say. I know it all. Hit's cur'us, but it act'-ally looks like +lots o' decent young folks hev got usen to the idee-thar's so much of +it goin' on, 'n' thar's so much talk 'bout killin' 'n' layin' out in the +lorrel. Reckon folks 'll git to pesterm' women n' strangers bimeby, 'n' +robbin' 'n' thievin'. Hit's bad enough thar's so leetle law thet folks +hev to take it in their own hands oncet in a while, but this shootin' +from the bresh-hit's p'int'ly a sin 'n' shame! Why," he concluded, +pointing his remonstrance as he always did, "I seed your grandad and +young Jas's fight up thar in Hazlan full two hours 'fore the war-fist +and skull-'n' your grandad was whooped. They got up and shuk hands. I +don't see why folks can't fight that way now. I wish Rufe 'n' old Jas +'n' you 'n' young Jas could have it out fist and skull, 'n' stop this +killin' o' people like hogs. Thar's nobody left but you four. But thar's +no chance o' that, I reckon." + +"I'll fight him anyway, 'n' I reckon ef he don't die till I lay out in +the lorrel fer him, he'll live a long time. Ef a Stetson ever done sech +meanness as that I never heerd it." + +"Nother hev I," said the old man, with quick justice. "You air a +over-bearin' race, all o' ye, but I never knowed ye to be that mean. +Hit's all the wus fer ye thet ye air in sech doin's. I tell ye, Rome--" + +A faint cry rose above the drone of the millstones, and old Gabe stopped +with open lips to listen. The boy's face was pressed close to the logs. +A wet paddle had flashed into the sunlight from out the bushes across +the river. He could just see a canoe in the shadows under them, and with +quick suspicion his brain pictured Jasper's horse hitched in the bushes, +and Jasper stealing across the river to waylay Rome. But the canoe moved +slowly out of sight downstream and toward the deep water, the paddler +unseen, and the boy looked around with a weak smile. Neither seemed to +have heard him. Rome was brooding, with his sullen face in his hands; +the old miller was busy with his own thoughts; and the boy turned again +to his watch. + +Jasper did not come. Isom's eyes began to ache from the steady gaze, and +now and then he would drop them to the water swirling beneath. A slow +wind swayed the overhanging branches at the mouth of the stream, and +under them was an eddy. Escaping this, the froth and bubbles raced out +to the gleams beating the air from the sunlit river. He saw one tiny +fleet caught; a mass of yellow scum bore down and, sweeping through +bubbles and eddy, was itself struck into fragments by something afloat. +A tremulous shadow shot through a space of sunlight into the gloom cast +by a thicket of rhododendrons, and the boy caught his breath sharply. A +moment more, and the shape of a boat and a human figure quivered on the +water running under him. The stern of a Lewallen canoe swung into the +basin, and he sprang to his feet. + +"Rome!" The cry cut sharply through the drowsy air. "Thar he is! Hit's +Jas!" + +The old miller rose to his feet. The boy threw himself behind the sacks +of grain. Rome wheeled for his rifle, and stood rigid before the door. +There was a light step without, the click of a gun-lock within; a shadow +fell across the doorway, and a girl stood at the threshold with an empty +bag in her hand. + + + + +V + +WITH a little cry she shrank back a step. Her face paled and her lips +trembled, and for a moment she could not speak. But her eyes swept the +group, and were fixed in two points of fire on Rome. + +"Why don't ye shoot!" she asked, scornfully. + +"I hev heerd that the Stetsons have got to makin war on women-folks, but +I never believed it afore." Then she turned to the miller. + +"Kin I git some more meal hyeh?" she asked. "Or have ye stopped sellin' +to folks on t'other side?" she added, in a tone that sought no favor. + +"You kin have all ye want," said old Gabe, quietly. + +"The mill on Dead Crick is broke ag'in," she continued, "'n' co'n is +skeerce on our side. We'll have to begin buyin' purty soon, so I thought +I'd save totin' the co'n down hyeh." She handed old Gabe the empty bag. + +"Well," said he, "as it air gittin' late, 'n' ye have to climb the +mountain ag'in, I'll let ye have that comm' out o' the hopper now. Take +a cheer." + +The girl sat down in the low chair, and, loosening the strings of her +bonnet, pushed it back from her head. An old-fashioned horn comb dropped +to the floor, and when she stooped to pick it up she let her hair fall +in a head about her shoulders. Thrusting one hand under it, she calmly +tossed the whole mass of chestnut and gold over the back of the chair, +where it fell rippling like water through a bar of sunlight. With head +thrown back and throat bared, she shook it from side to side, and, +slowly coiling it, pierced it with the coarse comb. Then passing her +hands across her forehead and temples, as women do, she folded them in +her lap, and sat motionless. The boy, crouched near, held upon her the +mesmeric look of a serpent. Old Gabe was peering covertly from under the +brim of his hat, with a chuckle at his lips. Rome had fallen back to a +corner of the mill, sobered, speechless, his rifle in a nerveless hand. +The passion that fired him at the boy's warning had as swiftly gone down +at sight of the girl, and her cutting rebuke made him hot again with +shame. He was angry, too-more than angry-because he felt so helpless, +a sensation that was new and stifling. The scorn of her face, as he +remembered it that morning, hurt him again while he looked at her. A +spirit of contempt was still in her eyes, and quivering about her thin +lips and nostrils. She had put him beneath further notice, and yet every +toss of her head, every movement of her hands, seemed meant for him, +to irritate him. And once, while she combed her hair, his brain whirled +with an impulse to catch the shining stuff in one hand and to pinion +both her wrists with the other, Just to show her that he was master, and +still would harm her not at all. But he shut his teeth, and watched her. +Among mountain women the girl was more than pretty; elsewhere only her +hair, perhaps, would have caught the casual eye. She wore red homespun +and coarse shoes; her hands were brown and hardened. Her arms and +shoulders looked muscular, her waist was rather large-being as nature +meant it-and her face in repose had a heavy look. But the poise of her +head suggested native pride and dignity; her eyes were deep, and full of +changing lights; the scarlet dress, loose as it was, showed rich curves +in her figure, and her movements had a certain childlike grace. Her brow +was low, and her mouth had character; the chin was firm, the upper lip +short, and the teeth were even and white. + +"I reckon thar's enough to fill the sack, Isom," said the old miller, +breaking the strained silence of the group. The girl rose and handed him +a few pieces of silver. + +"I reckon I'd better pay fer it all," she said. "I s'pose I won't be over +hyeh ag'in." + +Old Gabe gave some of the coins back. + +"Y'u know whut my price al'ays is," he said. + +"I'm obleeged," answered the girl, flushing. + +"Co'n hev riz on our side. I thought mebbe you charged folks over thar +more, anyways." + +"I sells fer the same, ef co'n is high ur low," was the answer. "This +side or t'other makes no diff'unce to me. I hev frien's on both sides, +'n' I take no part in sech doin's as air a shame to the mountains." + +There was a quick light of protest in the girl's dark eyes; but the old +miller was honored by both factions, and without a word she turned to +the boy, who was tying the sack. + +"The boat's loose!" he called out, with the string between his teeth; +and she turned again and ran out. Rome stood still. + +"Kerry the sack out, boy, 'n' holp the gal." Old Gabe's voice was stern, +and the young mountaineer doggedly swung the bag to his shoulders. The +girl had caught the rope, and drawn the rude dugout along the shore. + +"Who axed ye to do that?" she asked, angrily. + +Rome dropped the bag into the boat, and merely looked her in the face. + +"Look hyeh, Rome Stetson"--the sound of his name from her lips almost +startled him--"I'll hev ye understan' that I don't want to be bounden to +you, nor none o' yer kin." + +Turning, she gave an impatient sweep with her paddle. The prow of the +canoe dipped and was motionless. Rome had caught the stern, and the girl +wheeled in hot anger. Her impulse to strike may have been for the +moment and no longer, or she may have read swiftly no unkindness in the +mountaineer's steady look; for the uplifted oar was stayed in the air, +as though at least she would hear him. + +"I've got nothin' ag'in' you," he said, slowly, "Jas Lewallen hev been +threatenin' me, 'n' I thought it was him, 'n' I was ready fer him, when +you come into the mill. I wouldn't hurt you nur no other woman. Y'u +ought to know it, 'n' ye do know it." + +The words were masterful, but said in a way that vaguely soothed the +girl's pride, and the oar was let slowly into the water. + +"I reckon y'u air a friend o' his," he added, still quietly. "I've seed +ye goin' up thar, but I've got nothin' ag'in' ye, whoever ye be." + +She turned on him a sharp look of suspicion. "I reckon I do be a friend +o' hisn," she said, deliberately; and then she saw that he was in +earnest. A queer little smile went like a ray of light from her eyes +to her lips, and she gave a quick stroke with her paddle. The boat shot +into the current, and was carried swiftly toward the Cumberland. The +girl stood erect, swaying through light and shadow like a great scarlet +flower blowing in the wind; and Rome watched her till she touched the +other bank. Swinging the sack out, she stepped lightly after it, and, +without looking behind her, disappeared in the bushes. + +The boy Isom was riding away when Rome, turned, and old Gabe was +watching from the door of the mill. + +"Who is that gal?" he asked, slowly. It seemed somehow that he had known +her a long while ago. A puzzled frown overlay his face, and the old +miller laughed. + +"You a-axin' who she be, 'n' she a-axin who you be, 'n' both o' ye +a-knowin' one 'nother sence ye was knee-high. Why, boy, hit's old +Jasper's gal--Marthy!" + + + + +VI + +IN a flash of memory Rome saw the girl as vividly as when he last saw +her years ago. They had met at the mill, he with his father, she with +hers. There was a quarrel, and the two men were held apart. But the old +sore as usual was opened, and a week later Rome's father was killed +from the brush. He remembered his mother's rage and grief, her calls for +vengeance, the uprising, the fights, plots, and ambushes. He remembered +the look the girl had given him that long ago, and her look that day was +little changed. + +When fighting began, she had been sent for safety to the sister of her +dead mother in another county. When peace came, old Jasper married again +and the girl refused to come home. Lately the step-mother, too, had +passed away, and then she came back to live. All this the old miller +told in answer to Rome's questions as the two walked away in the +twilight. This was why he had not recognized her, and why her face yet +seemed familiar even when he crossed the river that morning. + +"Uncle Gabe, how do you reckon the gal knowed who I was?" + +"She axed me." + +"She axed you! Whar?" + +"Over thar in the mill." The miller was watching the young mountaineer +closely. The manner of the girl was significant when she asked who Rome +was, and the miller knew but one reason possible for his foolhardiness +that morning. + +"Do you mean to say she have been over hyeh afore?" + +"Why, yes, come to think about it, three or four times while Isom was +sick, and whut she come fer I can't make out. The mill over thar wasn't +broke long, 'n' why she didn't go thar or bring more co'n at a time, to +save her the trouble o' so many trips, I can't see to save me." + +Young Stetson was listening eagerly. Again the miller cast his bait. + +"Mebbe she's spyin'." + +Rome faced him, alert with suspicion; but old Gabe was laughing +silently. + +"Don't you be a fool, Rome. The gal comes and goes in that boat, 'n' +she couldn't see a soul without my knowin' it. She seed ye ridin' by one +day, 'n' she looked mighty cur'us when I tole her who ye was." + +Old Gabe stopped his teasing, Rome's face was so troubled, and himself +grew serious. + +"Rome," he said, earnestly, "I wish to the good Lord ye wasn't in sech +doin's. Ef that had been young Jas 'stid o' Marthy, I reckon ye would +'a' killed him right thar." + +"I wasn't going to let him kill me," was the sullen answer. + +The two had stopped at a rickety gate swinging open on the road. The +young mountaineer was pushing a stone about with the toe of his boot. +He had never before listened to remonstrance with such patience, and old +Gabe grew bold. + +"You've been drinkin' ag'in, Rome," he said, sharply, "'n' I know it. +Hit's been moonshine that's whooped you Stetsons, not the Lewallens, +long as I kin rickollect, 'n' it ull be moonshine ag'in ef ye don't let +it alone." + +Rome made no denial, no defence. "Uncle Gabe," he said slowly, still +busied with the stone, "hev that gal been over hyeh sence y'u tol' her +who I was?" + +The old man was waiting for the pledge that seemed on his lips, but he +did not lose his temper. + +"Not till to-day," he said, quietly. + +Rome turned abruptly, and the two separated with no word of parting. +For a moment the miller watched the young fellow striding away under his +rifle. + +"I have been atter peace a good while," he said to himself, "but I +reckon thar's a bigger hand a-workin' now than mine." Then he lifted his +voice. "Ef Isom's too sick to come down to the mill to-morrer, I wish +you'd come 'n' holp me." + +Rome nodded back over his shoulder, and went on, with head bent, along +the river road. Passing a clump of pines at the next curve, he pulled a +bottle from his pocket. + +"Uncle Gabe's about right, I reckon," he said, half aloud; and he raised +it above his head to hurl it away, but checked it in mid-air. For a +moment he looked at the colorless liquid, then, with quick nervousness, +pulled the cork of sassafras leaves, gulped down the pale moonshine, and +dashed the bottle against the trunk of a beech. The fiery stuff does +its work in a hurry. He was thirsty when he reached the mouth of a brook +that tumbled down the mountain along the pathway that would lead him +home, and he stooped to drink where the water sparkled in a rift of +dim light from overhead. Then he sat upright on a stone, with his wide +hat-brim curved in a crescent over his forehead, his hands caught about +his knees, and his eyes on the empty air. + +He was scarcely over his surprise that the girl was young Lewallen's +sister, and the discovery had wrought a curious change. The piquant +impulse of rivalry was gone, and something deeper was taking its place. +He was confused and a good deal troubled, thinking it all over. He +tried to make out what the girl meant by looking at him from the +mountain-side, by waving her bonnet at him, and by coming to old Gabe's +mill when she could have gone to her own. To be sure, she did not know +then who he was, and she had stopped coming when she learned; but why +had she crossed again that day? Perhaps she too was bantering him, and +he was at once angry and drawn to her; for her mettlesome spirit touched +his own love of daring, even when his humiliation was most bitter-when +she told him he warred on women; when he held out to her the branch +of peace and she swept it aside with a stroke of her oar. But Rome was +little conscious of the weight of subtle facts like these. His unseeing +eyes went back to her as she combed her hair. He saw the color in her +cheeks, the quick light in her eyes, the naked, full throat once more, +and the wavering forces of his unsteady brain centred in a stubborn +resolution-to see it all again. He would make Isom stay at home, if need +be, and he would take the boy's place at the mill. If she came there no +more, he would cross the river again. Come peace or war, be she friend +or enemy, he would see her. His thirst was fierce again, and, with this +half-drunken determination in his heart, he stooped once more to drink +from the cheerful little stream. As he rose, a loud curse smote the air. +The river, pressed between two projecting cliffs, was narrow at that +point, and the oath came across the water. An instant later a man led a +lamed horse from behind a bowlder, and stooped to examine its leg. The +dusk was thickening, but Rome knew the huge frame and gray beard of old +Jasper Lewallen. The blood beat in a sudden tide at his temples, and, +half by instinct, he knelt behind a rock, and, thrusting his rifle +through a crevice, cocked it softly. + +Again the curse of impatience came over the still water, and old Jasper +rose and turned toward him. The glistening sight caught in the centre of +his beard. That would take him in the throat; it might miss, and he let +the sight fall till the bullet would cut the fringe of gray hair into +the heart. Old Jasper, so people said, had killed his father in just +this way; he had driven his uncle from the mountains; he was trying +now to revive the feud. He was the father of young Jasper, who had +threatened his life, and the father of the girl whose contempt had cut +him to the quick twice that day. Again her taunt leaped through his +heated brain, and his boast to the old miller followed it. His finger +trembled at the trigger. + +"No; by ----, no!" he breathed between his teeth; and old Jasper passed on, +unharmed. + + + + +VII + +NEXT day the news of Rufe Stetson's flight went down the river on the +wind, and before nightfall the spirit of murder was loosed on both +shores of the Cumberland. The more cautious warned old Jasper. The +Stetsons were gaining strength again, they said; so were their feudsmen, +the Marcums, enemies of the Braytons, old Jasper's kinspeople. Keeping +store, Rufe had made money in the West, and money and friends right +and left through the mountains. With all his good-nature, he was a +persistent hater, and he was shrewd. He had waited the chance to put +himself on the side of the law, and now the law was with him. But old +Jasper laughed contemptuously. Rufe Stetson was gone again, he said, as +he had gone before, and this time for good. Rufe had tried to do +what nobody had done, or could do, while he was alive. Anyway, he was +reckless, and he cared little if war did come again. Still, the old man +prepared for a fight, and Steve Marcum on the other shore made ready for +Rufe's return. + +It was like the breaking of peace in feudal days. The close kin of each +leader were already about him, and now the close friends of each took +sides. Each leader trading in Hazlan had debtors scattered through the +mountains, and these rallied to aid the man who had befriended them. +There was no grudge but served a pretext for partisanship in the coming +war. Political rivalry had wedged apart two strong families, the Marcums +and Braytons; a boundary line in dispute was a chain of bitterness; a +suit in a country court had sown seeds of hatred. Sometimes it was a +horse-trade, a fence left down, or a gate left open, and the trespassing +of cattle; in one instance, through spite, a neighbor had docked the +tail of a neighbor's horse--had "muled his critter," as the owner +phrased the outrage. There was no old sore that was not opened by the +crafty leaders, no slumbering bitterness that they did not wake to life. +"Help us to revenge, and we will help you," was the whispered promise. +So, had one man a grudge against another, he could set his foot on one +or the other shore, sure that his enemy would be fighting for the other. + +Others there were, friends of neither leader, who, under stress of +poverty or hatred of work, would fight with either for food and clothes; +and others still, the ne'er-do-wells and outlaws, who fought by the day +or month for hire. Even these were secured by one or the other faction, +for Steve and old Jasper left no resource untried, knowing well that the +fight, if there was one, would be fought to a quick and decisive end. +The day for the leisurely feud, for patient planning, and the slow +picking off of men from one side or the other, was gone. The people in +the Blue Grass, who had no feuds in their own country, were trying +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. No greeting passed. The girl lifted +her head with a little toss that deepened the set look about the +mountaineer's mouth; her lax figure grew tense as though strung suddenly +against some coming harm, and her eyes searched the shadows without once +resting on him. + +"Whar's Uncle Gabe?" She spoke shortly, and as to a stranger. + +"Gone to town," said Rome, composedly. "He had schooled himself for this +meeting." + +"When's he comm' back?" + +"Not 'fore night, I reckon." + +"Whar's Isom?" + +"Isom's sick." + +"Well, who's tendin' this mill?" + +For answer he tossed the empty bag into the corner and, without looking +at her, picked up another bag. + +"I reckon ye see me, don't ye?" he asked, coolly. "Hev a cheer, and +rest a spell. Hit's a purty long climb whar you come from." + +The girl was confused. She stayed in the doorway, a little helpless +and suspicious. What was Rome Stetson doing here? His mastery of the +situation, his easy confidence, puzzled and irritated her. Should she +leave? The mountaineer was a Stetson, a worm to tread on if it crawled +across the path. It would be like backing down before an enemy. He might +laugh at her after she was gone, and, at that thought, she sat down in +the chair with composed face, looking through the door at the tumbling +water, which broke with a thousand tints under the sun, but able still +to see Rome, sidewise, as he moved about the hopper, whistling softly. + +Once she looked around, fancying she saw a smile on his sober face. +Their eyes came near meeting, and she turned quite away. + +"Ever seed a body out'n his head?" + +The girl's eyes rounded with a start of surprise. + +"Well, it's plumb cur'us. Isom's been that way lately. Isom's sick, ye +know. Uncle Gabe's got the rheumatiz, 'n' Isom's mighty fond o' Uncle +Gabe, 'n' the boy pestered me till I come down to he'p him. Hit p'int'ly +air strange to hear him talkin'. He's jes a-ravin' 'bout hell 'n' +heaven, 'n' the sin o' killin' folks. You'd ha' thought he hed been +convicted, though none o' our fambly hev been much atter religion. He +says as how the wrath uv a livin' God is a-goin' to sweep these mount +ins, ef some mighty tall repentin' hain't done. Of co'se he got all them +notions from Gabe. But Isom al'ays was quar, 'n' seed things hisself. He +ain't no fool!" + +The girl was listening. Morbidly sensitive to the supernatural, she had +turned toward him, and her face was relaxed with fear and awe. + +"He's havin' dreams 'n' sech-like now, 'n' I reckon thar's nothing he's +seed or heerd that he don' talk about. He's been a-goin' on about you," +he added, abruptly. The girl's hands gave a nervous twitch. "Oh, he +don't say nothin' ag'in' ye. I reckon he tuk a fancy to ye. Mam was +plumb distracted, not knowin' whar he had seed ye. She thought it was +like his other talk, 'n' I never let on-a-knowin' how mam was." A flush +rose like a flame from the girl's throat to her hair. "But hit's this," +Rome went on in an unsteady tone, "that he talks most about, 'n' I'm +sorry myself that trouble's a-comm'." He dropped all pretence now. "I've +been a-watchin' fer ye over thar on t' other shore a good deal lately. I +didn't know ye at fust, Marthy"--he spoke her name for the first time-- +"'n' Gabe says y'u didn't know me. I remembered ye, though, 'n' I want +to tell ye now what I tol' ye then: I've got nothin' ag'in you. I was +hopin' ye mought come over ag'in--hit was sorter cur'us that y'u was the +same gal--the same gal--" + +His self-control left him; he was halting in speech, and blundering +he did not know where. Fumbling an empty bag at the hopper, he had not +dared to look at the girl till he heard her move. She had risen, and +was picking up her bag. The hard antagonism of her face calmed him +instantly. + +"Hain't ye goin' to have yer grist ground?" + +"Not hyeh," she answered, quickly. + +"Why, gal--" He got no further. Martha was gone, and he followed her to +the bank, bewildered. + +The girl's suspicion, lulled by his plausible explanation, had grown +sharp again. The mountaineer knew that she had been coming there. He was +at the mill for another reason than to take the boy's place; and with +swift intuition she saw the truth. + +He got angry as she rode away--angry with himself that he had let her go; +and the same half-tender, half-brutal impulse seized him as when he saw +her first. This time he yielded. His horse was at hand, and the river +not far below was narrow. The bridle-path that led to the Lewallen +cabin swerved at one place to a cliff overlooking the river, and by hard +riding and a climb of a few hundred feet on foot he could overtake her +half-way up the mountain steep. + +The plan was no more than shaped before he was in the saddle and +galloping down the river. The set of his face changed hardly a line +while he swam the stream, and, drenched to the waist, scaled the cliff. +When he reached the spot, he found the prints of a woman's shoe in the +dust of the path, going down. There were none returning, and he had +not long to wait. A scarlet bit of color soon flashed through the gray +bushes below him. The girl was without her bag of corn. She was climbing +slowly, and was looking at the ground as though in deep thought. +Reckless as she was, she had come to realize at last just what she had +done. She had been pleased at first, as would have been any woman, when +she saw the big mountaineer watching her, for her life was lonely. +She had waved her bonnet at him from mere mischief. She hardly knew it +herself, but she had gone across the river to find out who he was. She +had shrunk from him as from a snake thereafter, and had gone no more +until old Jasper had sent her because the Lewallen mill was broken, and +because she was a woman, and would be safe from harm. She had met him +then when she could not help herself. But now she had gone of her own +accord. She had given this Stetson, a bitter enemy, a chance to see her, +to talk with her. She had listened to him; she had been on the point of +letting him grind her corn. And he knew how often she had gone to the +mill, and he could not know that she had ever been sent. Perhaps he +thought that she had come to make overtures of peace, friendship, even +more. The suspicion reddened her face with shame, and her anger at him +was turned upon herself. Why she had gone again that day she hardly +knew. But if there was another reason than simple perversity, it was the +memory of Rome Stetson's face when he caught her boat and spoke to her +in a way she could not answer. The anger of the moment came with every +thought of the incident afterward, and with it came too this memory of +his look, which made her at once defiant and uneasy. She saw him now +only when she was quite close, and, startled, she stood still; his stern +look brought her the same disquiet, but she gave no sign of fear. + +"Whut's the matter with ye?" + +The question was too abrupt, too savage, and the girl looked straight at +him, and her lips tightened with a resolution not to speak. The movement +put him beyond control. + +"Y'u puts hell into me, Marthy Lewallen; y'u puts downright hell into +me." The words came between gritted teeth. "I want to take ye up 'n' +throw ye off this cliff clean into the river, 'n' I reckon the next +minute I'd jump off atter ye. Y'u've 'witched me, gal! I forgits who ye +air 'n' who I be, 'n' sometimes I want to come over hyeh 'n' kerry +ye out'n these mountins, n' nuver come back. You know whut I've been +watchin' the river fer sence the fust time I seed ye. You know whut I've +been a-stayin' at the mill fer, 'n' Steve mad 'n' mam a-jowerin'--'n' +a-lookin' over hyeh fer ye night 'n' day! Y'u know whut I've jes swum +over hyeh fer! Whut's the matter with ye?" + +Martha was not looking for a confession like this. It took away +her shame at once, and the passion of it thrilled her, and left her +trembling. While he spoke her lashes drooped quickly, her face softened, +and the color came back to it. She began intertwining her fingers, and +would not look up at him. + +"Ef y'u hates me like the rest uv ye, why don't ye say it right out? 'N' +ef ye do hate me, whut hev you been lookin' 'cross the river fer, 'n' +a-shakin' yer bonnet at me, 'n' paddlin' to Gabe's fer yer grist, when +the mill on Dead Crick's been a-runnin', 'n' I know it? You've been +banterin' me, hev ye?"--the blood rose to his eyes again. "Ye mustn't +fool with me, gal, by ----, ye mustn't. Whut hev you been goin' over thar +fer?" He even took a threatening step toward her, and, with a helpless +gesture, stopped. The girl was a little frightened. Indeed, she smiled, +seeing her power over him; she seemed even about to laugh outright; +but the smile turned to a quick look of alarm, and she bent her +head suddenly to listen to something below. At last she did speak. +"Somebody's comm'!" she said. "You'd better git out o' the way," she +went on, hurriedly. "Somebody's comm', I tell ye! Don't ye hear?" + +It was no ruse to get rid of him. The girl's eyes were dilating. +Something was coming far below. Rome could catch the faint beats of a +horse's hoofs. He was unarmed, and he knew it was death for him to be +seen on that forbidden mountain; but he was beyond caution, and ready to +welcome any vent to his passion, and he merely shook his head. + +"Ef it's Satan hisself, I hain't goin' to run." The hoof-beats came +nearer. The rider must soon see them from the coil below. + +"Rome, hit's Jas! He's got his rifle, and he'll kill ye, 'n' me too!" +The girl was white with distress. She had called him by his name, and +the tone was of appeal, not anger. The black look passed from his face, +and he caught her by the shoulders with rough tenderness; but she pushed +him away, and without a word he sprang from the road and let himself +noiselessly down the cliff. The hoof-beats thundered above his head, and +Young Jasper's voice hailed Martha. + +"This hyeh's the bigges' meal I ever straddled. Why d'n't ye git the +grist ground?" + +For a moment the girl did not answer, and Rome waited, breathless. +"Wasn't the mill runnin'? Whyn't ye go on 'cross the river? + +"That's whut I did," said the girl, quietly. "Uncle Gabe wasn't thar, 'n' +Rome Stetson was. I wouldn't 'low him to grin' the co 'n, 'n' so I toted +hit back." + +"Rome Stetson!" The voice was lost in a volley of oaths. + +The two passed out of hearing, and Rome went plunging down the mountain, +swinging recklessly from one little tree to another, and wrenching limbs +from their sockets out of pure physical ecstasy. When he reached his +horse he sat down, breathing heavily, on a bed of moss, with a strange +new yearning in his heart. If peace should come! Why not peace, if Rufe +should not come back? He would be the leader then, and without him there +could be no war. Old Jasper had killed his father. He was too young at +the time to feel poignant sorrow now, and somehow he could look even at +that death in a fairer way. His father had killed old Jasper's brother. +So it went back: a Lewallen killed a Stetson; that Stetson had killed a +Lewallen, until one end of the chain of deaths was lost, and the first +fault could not be placed, though each clan put it on the other. In +every generation there had been compromises--periods of peace; why not +now? Old Gabe would gladly help him. He might make friends with young +Jasper; he might even end the feud. And then-he and Martha-why not? He +closed his eyes, and for one radiant moment t all seemed possible. And +then a gaunt image rose in the dream, and only the image was left. +It was the figure of his mother, stern and silent through the years, +opening her grim lips rarely without some curse against the Lewallen +race. He remembered she had smiled for the first time when she heard of +the new trouble-the flight of his uncle and the hope of conflict. She +had turned to him with her eyes on fire and her old hands clinched. She +had said nothing, but he understood her look. And now-Good God! what +would she think and say if she could know what he had done? His whole +frame twitched at the thought, and, with a nervous spring to escape it, +he was on his feet, and starting down the mountain. + +Close to the river he heard voices below him, and he turned his horse +quickly aside into the bushes. Two women who had been washing clothes +passed, carrying white bundles home. They were talking of the coming +feud. + +"That ar young Stetson ain't much like his dad," said one. "Young Jas +has been a-darin' 'n' a-banterin' him, 'n' he won't take it up. They say +he air turnin' out a plumb coward." + +When he reached the Stetson cabin three horses with drooping heads were +hitched to the fence. All had travelled a long way. One wore a man's +saddle; on the others were thick blankets tied together with leathern +thongs. + +In the dark porch sat several men. Through the kitchen door he could see +his mother getting supper. Inside a dozen rifles leaned against the wall +in the firelight, and about their butts was a pile of ammunition. In the +doorway stood Rufe Stetson. + + + + +IX + +ALL were smoking and silent. Several spoke from the shadows as Rome +stepped on the porch, and Rufe Stetson faced him a moment in the +doorway, and laughed. + +"Seem kinder s'prised?" he said, with a searching look. "Wasn't lookin' +for me? I reckon I'll s'prise sev'ral ef I hev good-luck." + +The subtlety of this sent a chuckle of appreciation through the porch, +but Rome passed in without answer. + +Isom lay on his bed within the circle of light, and his face in the +brilliant glow was white, and his eyes shone feverishly. "Rome," he +said, excitedly, "Uncle Rufe's hyeh, 'n' they laywayed him, 'n'----" +He paused abruptly. His mother came in, and at her call the mountaineers +trooped through the covered porch, and sat down to supper in the +kitchen. They ate hastily and in silence, the mother attending their +wants, and Rome helping her. The meal finished, they drew their chairs +about the fire. Pipes were lighted, and Rufe Stetson rose and closed the +door. + +"Thar's no use harryin' the boy," he said; "I reckon he'll be too puny to +take a hand." + +The mother stopped clearing the table, and sat on the rock hearth close +to the fire, her withered lips shut tight about a lighted pipe, and her +sunken eyes glowing like the coal of fire in its black bowl. Now and +then she would stretch her knotted hands nervously into the flames, or +knit them about her knees, looking closely at the heavy faces about her, +which had lightened a little with expectancy. Rufe Stetson stood before +the blaze, his hands clasped behind him, and his huge figure bent in +reflection. At intervals he would look with half-shut eyes at Rome, who +Sat with troubled face outside the firelight. Across the knees of Steve +Marcum, the best marksman in the mountains, lay the barrel of a new +Winchester. Old Sam Day, Rufe's father-in-law and counsellor to the +Stetsons for a score of years, sat as if asleep on the opposite side of +the fireplace from the old mother, with his big square head pressed down +between his misshapen shoulders. + +"The time hev come, Rome." Rufe spoke between the puffs of his pipe, and +Rome's heart quickened, for every eye was upon him. "Thar's goin' to +be trouble now. I hear as how young Jasper hev been talkin' purty tall +about ye--'lowin' as how ye air afeard O' him." + +Rome felt his mother's burning look. He did not turn toward her nor +Rufe, but his face grew sullen, and his voice was low and harsh. +"I reckon he'll find out about that when the time comes," he said, +quietly-too quietly, for the old mother stirred uneasily, and +significant glances went from eye to eye. Rufe did not look up from the +floor. He had been told about Rome's peculiar conduct, and, while the +reason for it was beyond guessing, he knew the temper of the boy and +how to kindle it. He had thrust a thorn in a tender spot, and he let it +rankle. How sorely it did rankle he little knew. The voice of the woman +across the river was still in Rome's ears. Nothing cuts the mountaineer +to the quick like the name of coward. It stung him like the lash of +an ox-whip then; it smarted all the way across the river and up the +mountain. Young Jasper had been charging him broadcast with cowardice, +and Jasper's people no doubt believed it. Perhaps his own did--his +uncle, his mother. The bare chance of such a humiliation set up an +inward rage. He wondered how he could ever have been such a fool as to +think of peace. The woman's gossip had swept kindly impulses from his +heart with a fresh tide of bitterness, and, helpless now against its +current, he sullenly gave way, and let his passions loose to drift with +it. + +"Whar d' ye git the guns, Rufe?" Steve was testing the action of the +Winchester with a kindling look, as the click of the locks struck softly +through the silence. + +"Jackson; 'way up in Breathitt, at the eend of the new road." + +"No wonder y'u've been gone so long." + +"I had to wait thar fer the guns, 'n' I had to travel atter dark comm' +back, 'n' lay out'n the bresh by day. Hit's full eighty mile up thar." + +"Air ye shore nobody seed ye?" + +The question was from a Marcum, who had come in late, and several +laughed. Rufe threw back his dusty coat, which was ripped through the +lapel by a bullet. + +"They seed me well 'nough fer that," he said, grimly, and then he looked +toward Rome, who thought of old Jasper, and gave back a gleam of fierce +sympathy. There were several nods of approval along with the laugh that +followed. It was a surprise--so little consideration of an escape so +narrow--from Rufe; for, as old Gabe said, Rufe was big and good-natured, +and was not thought fit for leadership. But there was a change in him +when he came back from the West. He was quieter; he laughed less No one +spoke of the difference; it was too vague; but every one felt it, and it +had an effect. His flight had made many uneasy, but his return, for that +reason, brought a stancher fealty from these; and this was evident now. +All eyes were upon him, and all tongues, even old Sam's, waited now for +his to speak. + +"Whut we've got to do, we've got to do mighty quick," he began, at last. +"Things air changin'. I seed it over thar in Breathitt. The soldiers +'n' that scar-faced Jellico preacher hev broke up the fightin' over +thar, 'n' ef we don't watch out, they'll be a-doin' it hyeh, when we +start our leetle frolic. We hain't got no time to fool. Old Jas knows +this as well as me, 'n' thar's goin' to be mighty leetle chance fer +'em to layway 'n' pick us off from the bresh. Thar's goin' to be fa'r +fightin' fer once, thank the Lord. They bushwhacked us dunn' the war, +'n' they've laywayed us 'n' shot us to pieces ever sence; but now, ef +God A'mighty's willin', the thing's a-goin' to be settled one way or +t'other at last, I reckon." + +He stopped a moment to think. The men's breathing could be heard, so +quiet was the room, and Rufe went on telling in detail, slowly, as if to +himself, the wrongs the Lewallens had done his people. When he came to +old Jasper his voice was low, and his manner was quieter than ever. + +"Now old Jas have got to the p'int whar he says as how nobody in this +county kin undersell him 'n' stay hyeh. Old Jas druv Bond Vickers out'n +the mount 'ins fer tryin' hit. He druv Jess Hale away; 'n' them two air +our kin." + +The big mountaineer turned then, and knocked the ashes from his pipe. +His eyes grew a little brighter, and his nostrils spread, but with a +sweep of his arm he added, still quietly: + +"Y' all know whut he's done." + +The gesture lighted memories of personal wrongs in every breast; he had +tossed a fire-brand among fagots, and an angry light began to burn from +the eyes that watched him. + +"Ye know, too, that he thinks he has played the same game with me; but +ye don't know, I reckon, that he had ole Jim Stover 'n' that mis'able +Eli Crump a-hidin' in the bushes to shoot me"--again he grasped the torn +lapel; "that a body warned me to git away from Hazlan; n' the night I +left home they come thar to kill me, 'n' s'arched the house, 'n' skeered +Mollie n' the leetle gal 'most to death." + +The mountaineer's self-control was lost suddenly in a furious oath. The +men did know, but in fresh anger they leaned forward in their chairs, +and twisted about with smothered curses. The old woman had stopped +smoking, and was rocking her body to and fro. Her lips were drawn in +upon her toothless gums, and her pipe was clinched against her sunken +breast. The head of the old mountaineer was lifted, and his eyes were +open and shining fiercely. + +"I hear as how he says I'm gone fer good. Well, I have been kinder +easy-goin', hatin' to fight, but sence the day I seed Rome's dad thar +dead in his blood, I hev had jes one thing I wanted to do. Thar wasn't +no use stayin' hyeh; I seed that. Rome thar was too leetle, and they was +too many fer me. I knowed it was easier to git a new start out West, +'n' when I come back to the mount'in, hit was to do jes-whut +I'm--going--to--do--now." He wheeled suddenly upon Rome, with one huge +hand lifted. Under it the old woman's voice rose in a sudden wail: + +"Yes; 'n' I want to see it done befoh I die. I hain't hyeh fer long, but +I hain't goin' to leave as long as ole Jas is hyeh, 'n' I want ye all to +know it. Ole Jas hev got to go fust. You hear me, Rome? I'm a-talkin' to +you; I'm a-talkin' to you. Hit's yo' time now!" + +The frenzied chant raised Rome from his chair. Rufe himself took up the +spirit of it, and his voice was above all caution. + +"Yes, Rome! They killed him, boy. They sneaked on him, 'n' shot him to +pieces from the bushes. Yes; hit's yo' time now! Look hyeh, boys!" +He reached above the fireplace and took down an old rifle--his +brother's--which the old mother had suffered no one to touch. He held +it before the fire, pointing to two crosses made near the flash-pan. +"Thar's one fer ole Jim Lewallen! Thar's one fer ole Jas! He got Jim, +but ole Jas has got him, 'n' thar's his cross thar yit! Whar's yo' gun, +Rome? Shame on ye, boy!" + +The wild-eyed old woman was before him. She had divined Rufe's purpose, +and was already at his side, with Rome's Winchester in one hand and a +clasp-knife in the other. Every man was on his feet; the door was open, +and the boy Isom was at the threshold, his eyes blazing from his white +face. Rome had strode forward. + +"Yes, boy; now's the time, right hyeh before us all!" + +The mother had the knife outstretched. Rome took it, and the scratch of +the point on the hard steel went twice through the stillness--"one more +fer the young un;" the voice was the old mother's--then twice again. + +The moon was sinking when Rome stood in the door alone. The tramp of +horses was growing fainter down the mountain. The trees were swaying in +the wind below him, and he could just see the gray cliffs on the other +shore. The morning seemed far away; it made him dizzy looking back to it +through the tumult of the day. Somewhere in the haze was the vision of +a girl's white face--white with distress for him. Her father and her +brother he had sworn to kill. He had made a cross for each, and each +cross was an oath. He closed the door; and then he gave way, and sat +down with his head in both hands. The noises in the kitchen ceased. The +fire died away, and the chill air gathered about him. When he rose, the +restless eyes of the boy were upon him from the shadows. + + + + +X + +IT was court-day in Hazlan, but so early in the morning nothing was +astir in the town that hinted of its life on such a day. But for the +ring of a blacksmith's anvil on the quiet air, and the fact that nowhere +was a church-spire visible, a stranger would have thought that the +peace of Sabbath overlay a village of God-fearing people. A burly figure +lounged in the porch of a rickety house, and yawned under a swinging +sign, the rude letters of which promised "private entertainment" for +the traveller unlucky enough to pass that way. In the one long, narrow +main street, closely flanked by log and framed houses, nothing else +human was in sight. Out from this street, and in an empty square, stood +the one brick building in the place, the court-house, brick without, +brick within; unfinished, unpencilled, unpainted; panes out of the +windows, a shutter off here and there, or swinging drunkenly on one +hinge; the door wide op en, as though there was no privacy within--a poor +structure, with the look of a good man gone shiftless and fast going +wrong. + +Soon two or three lank brown figures appeared from each direction on +foot; then a horseman or two, and by and by mountaineers came in groups, +on horse and on foot. In time the side alleys and the court-house square +were filled with horses and mules, and even steers. The mountaineers +crowded the narrow street: idling from side to side; squatting for a +bargain on the wooden sidewalks; grouping on the porch of the rickety +hotel, and on the court-house steps loitering in and out of the one +store in sight. Out in the street several stood about a horse, looking +at his teeth, holding his eyes to the sun, punching his ribs, twisting +his tail; while the phlegmatic owner sat astride the submissive beast, +and spoke short answers to rare questions. Everybody talked politics, +the crop failure, or the last fight at the seat of some private war; but +nobody spoke of a Lewallen or a Stetson unless he knew his listener's +heart, and said it in a whisper. For nobody knew when the powder would +flash, or who had taken sides, or that a careless word might not array +him with one or the other faction. + +A motley throng it was--in brown or gray homespun, with trousers +in cowhide boots, and slouched hats with brims curved according to +temperament, but with striking figures in it; the patriarch with long, +white hair, shorn even with the base of the neck, and bearded only +at the throat-a justice of the peace, and the sage of his district; a +little mountaineer with curling black hair and beard, and dark, fine +features; a grizzled giant with a head rugged enough to have been +carelessly chipped from stone; a bragging candidate claiming everybody's +notice; a square-shouldered fellow surging through the crowd like a +stranger; an open-faced, devil-may-care young gallant on fire with +moonshine; a skulking figure with brutish mouth and shifting eyes. +Indeed, every figure seemed distinct; for, living apart from his +neighbor, and troubling the law but little in small matters of dispute, +the mountaineer preserves independence, and keeps the edges of his +individuality unworn. Apparently there was not a woman in town. Those +that lived there kept housed, and the fact was significant. Still, it +was close to noon, and yet not a Stetson or a Lewallen had been seen. +The stores of Rufe and old Jasper were at the extremities of the town, +and the crowd did not move those ways. It waited in the centre, and +whetted impatience by sly trips in twos and three to stables or side +alleys for "mountain dew." Now and then the sheriff, a little man with a +mighty voice, would appear on the courthouse steps, and summon a witness +to court, where a frightened judge gave instructions to a frightened +jury. But few went, unless called; for the interest was outside; every +man in the streets knew that a storm was nigh, and was waiting to see it +burst. + +Noon passed. A hoarse bell and a whining hound had announced dinner +in the hotel. The guests were coming again into the streets. Eyes were +brighter, faces a little more flushed, and the "moonshine" was passed +more openly. Both ways the crowd watched closely. The quiet at each end +of the street was ominous, and the delay could last but little longer. +The lookers-on themselves were getting quarrelsome. The vent must come +soon, or among them there would be trouble. + +"Thar comes Jas Lewallen!" At last. A dozen voices spoke at once. A +horseman had appeared far down the street from the Lewallen end. The +clouds broke from about the sun, and a dozen men knew the horse that +bore him; for the gray was prancing the street sidewise, and throwing +the sunlight from his flanks. Nobody followed, and the crowd was +puzzled. Young Jasper carried a Winchester across his saddle-bow, and, +swaying with the action of his horse, came on. + +"What air he about?" + +"He's a plumb idgit." + +"He mus' be crazy." + +"He's drunk!" + +The wonder ceased. Young Jasper was reeling. Two or three Stetsons +slipped from the crowd, and there was a galloping of hoofs the other +way. Another horseman appeared from the Lewallen end, riding hastily. +The new-comer's errand was to call Jasper back. But the young dare-devil +was close to the crowd, and was swinging a bottle over his head. + +"Come back hyeh, Jas! Come hyeh!" The new-comer was shouting afar off +while he galloped. Horses were being untethered from the side alleys. +Several more Lewallen riders came in sight. They could see the gray +shining in the sunlight amid the crowd, and the man sent after him +halted at a safe distance, gesticulating; and they, too, spurred +forward. + +"Hello, boys!" young Jasper was calling out, as he swayed from side to +side, the people everywhere giving him way. + +"Fun to-day, by ----! fun to-day! Who'll hev a drink? Hyeh's hell to the +Stetsons, whar some of 'em 'll be afore night!" + +With a swagger he lifted the bottle to his lips, and, stopping short, +let it fall untouched to the ground. He had straightened in his saddle, +and was looking up the street. With a deep curse he threw the Winchester +to his shoulder, fired, and before his yell had died on his lips horse +and rider were away like a shaft of light. The crowd melted like magic +from the street. The Stetsons, chiefly on foot, did not return the +fire, but halted up the street, as if parleying. Young Jasper joined his +party, and they, too, stood still a moment, puzzled by the irresolution +of the other side. + +"Watch out! they're gittin' round ye! Run for the court-house, ye +fools!-ye, run!" The voice came in a loud yell from somewhere down the +street, and its warning was just in time. + +A wreath of smoke came about a corner of the house far down the street, +and young Jasper yelled, and dashed up a side alley with his followers. +A moment later judge, jury, witnesses, and sheriff were flying down the +court-house steps at the point of Lewallen guns; the Lewallen horses, +led by the gray, were snorting through the streets; their riders, +barricaded in the forsaken court-house, were puffing a stream of fire +and smoke from every window of court-room below and jury-room above. + +The streets were a bedlam. The Stetsons were yelling with triumph. The +Lewallens were divided, and Rufe placed three Stetsons with Winchesters +on each side of the courthouse, and kept them firing. Rome, pale and +stern, hid his force between the square and the Lewallen store. He +was none too quick. The rest were coming on, led by old Jasper. It was +reckless, riding that way right into death; but the old man believed +young Jasper's life at stake, and the men behind asked no questions when +old Jasper led them. The horses' hoofs beat the dirt street like +the crescendo of thunder. The fierce old man's hat was gone, and his +mane-like hair was shaking in the wind. Louder-and still the Stetsons +were quiet-quiet too long. The wily old man saw the trap, and, with +a yell, whirled the column up an alley, each man flattening over his +saddle. From every window, from behind every corner and tree, smoke +belched from the mouth of a Winchester. Two horses went down; one +screamed; the other struggled to his feet, and limped away with an empty +saddle. One of the fallen men sprang into safety behind a house, and one +lay still, with his arms stretched out and his face in the dust. + +From behind barn, house, and fence the Lewallens gave back a scattering +fire; but the Stetsons crept closer, and were plainly in greater +numbers. Old Jasper was being surrounded, and he mounted again, and all, +followed by a chorus of bullets and triumphant yells, fled for a wooded +slope in the rear of the court-house. A dozen Lewallens were prisoners, +and must give up or starve. There was savage joy in the Stetson crowd, +and many-footed rumor went all ways that night. + +Despite sickness and Rome's strict order, Isom had ridden down to the +mill. Standing in the doorway, he and old Gabe saw up the river, where +the water broke into foam over the ford, a riderless gray horse plunging +across. Later it neighed at a gate under Wolf's Head, and Martha +Lewallen ran out to meet it. Across under Thunderstruck Knob that +night the old Stetson mother listened to Isom's story of the fight with +ghastly joy in her death-marked face. + + + + +XI + +ALL night the court-house was guarded and on guard. At one corner of +the square Rufe Stetson, with a few men, sat on watch in old Sam Day's +cabin--the fortress of the town, built for such a purpose, and used for +it many times before. The prisoners, too, were alert, and no Stetson +ventured into the open square, for the moon was high; an exposure +anywhere was noted instantly by the whistle of a rifle-ball, and the +mountaineer takes few risks except under stress of drink or passion. +Rome Stetson had placed pickets about the town wherever surprise was +possible. All night he patrolled the streets to keep his men in such +readiness as he could for the attack that the Lewallens would surely +make to rescue their living friends and to avenge the dead ones. + +But the triumph was too great and unexpected. Two Braytons were dead; +several more were prisoners with young Jasper in the courthouse; and +drinking began. + +As the night deepened without attack the Stetsons drank more, and grew +reckless. A dance was started. Music and "moonshine" were given to every +man who bore a Winchester. The night was broken with drunken yells, the +random discharge of fire-arms, and the mono-tone of heavy feet. The two +leaders were helpless, and the inaction of the Lewallens puzzled them. +Chafed with anxiety, they kept their eyes on the court-house or on the +thicket of gloom where their enemies lay. But the woods were as quiet +as the pall of shadows over them. Once Rome, making his rounds, saw a +figure crawling through a field of corn. It looked like Crump's, but +before he could fire the man rolled like a ball down the bushy bank +to the river. An instant later some object went swiftly past a side +street-somebody on horseback-and a picket fired an alarm. The horse +kept on, and Rome threw his rifle on a patch of moonlight, but when the +object flashed through, his finger was numbed at the trigger. In the +moonlight the horse looked gray, and the rider was seated sidewise. A +bullet from the court-house clipped his hat-brim as he ran recklessly +across the street to where Steve Marcum stood in the dark behind old +Sam's cabin. + +"Jim Hale 'll git him as he goes up the road," said Steve, calmly--and +then with hot impatience, "Why the hell don't he shoot?" + +Rome started forward in the moonlight, and Steve caught his arm. Two +bullets hissed from the court-house, and he fell back. + +A shot sounded from the bushes far away from the road. The horse kept +on, and splashed into Troubled Fork, and Steve swore bitterly. + +"Hit hain't Jim. Hit's that mis'able Bud Vickers; he's been a-stan din' +guard out'n the bushes 'stid o' the road. That was a spy, I tell ye, 'n' +the coward let him in and let him out. They'll know now we're all drunk! +Whut's the matter?" + +Rome's mouth was half open. He looked white and sick, and Steve thought +he had been hit, but he took off his hat. "Purty close!" he said, with +a laugh, pointing at the bullet-hole through the brim. + +Steve, unsuspicious, went on: "Hit was a spy, I tell ye. Bud was afeard +to stan' in the road, 'n' I'm goin' out thar 'n' twist his damned neck. +We've got 'em, Rome! I tell ye, we've got 'em! Ef we kin git through +this night, and git the boys sober in the morning, we've got 'em shore!" + +The night did pass in safety, darkness wore away without attack, and +morning broke on the town in its drunken stupor. Then the curious +silence of the Lewallens was explained. The rumor came that old Jasper +was dead, and it went broadcast. Later, friends coming to the edge of +the town for the bodies of the dead Lewallens confirmed it. A random +ball had passed through old Lewallen's body in the wild flight for the +woods, and during the night he had spent his last breath in a curse +against the man who fired it. + +Then each Stetson, waked from his drunken sleep, drank again when he +heard of the death. The day bade fair to be like the night, and again +the anxiety of the leaders was edged with fear. Old Jasper dead and +young Jasper a prisoner, the chance was near to end the feud, or there +would be no Lewallen left to lead their enemies. But, again, they were +well-nigh helpless. Already they had barely enough men to guard their +prisoners. Of the Marcums, Steve alone was able to handle a Winchester, +and outside the sounds of the carousal were in the air and growing +louder. In a little while, if the Lewallens but knew it, escape would be +easy and the Stetsons could be driven from the town. + +"Oh, they know it," said Steve. "They'll be a-whoopin' down out O' them +woods purty soon, 'n' we re goin to ketch hell. I'd like to know mighty +well who that spy was last night. That cussed Bud Vickers says it was a +ha'nt, on a white hoss, with long hair flyin' in the wind, 'n' that he +shot plumb through it. I jus' wish I'd a had a chance at it." + +Still, noon came again without trouble, and the imprisoned Lewallens +had been twenty-four hours without food. Their ammunition was getting +scarce. The firing was less frequent, though the watch was as close as +ever, and twice a Winchester had sounded a signal of distress. All knew +that a response must come soon; and come it did. A picket, watching the +river road, saw young Jasper's horse coming along the dark bushes far up +the river, and brought the news to the group standing behind old Sam's +cabin. The gray galloped into sight, and, skirting the woods, came +straight for the town-with a woman on his back. The stirrup of a man's +saddle dangled on one side, and the woman's bonnet had fallen from her +head. Some one challenged her. + +"Stop, I tell ye! Don't ye go near that courthouse! Stop, I tell ye! I'll +shoot! Stop!" + +Rome ran from the cabin with a revolver in each hand. A drunken +mountaineer was raising a Winchester to his shoulder, and, springing +from the back of the gray at the court-house steps, was Martha Lewallen. + +"I'll kill the fust man that lifts his finger to hurt the gal," Rome +said, knocking the drunken man's gun in the air. "We hain't fightin' +women!" + +It was too late to oppose her, and the crowd stood helplessly watching. +No one dared approach, so, shielding with her body the space of the +opening door, she threw the sack of food within. Then she stood a moment +talking and, turning, climbed to her saddle. The gray was spotted with +foam, and showed the red of his nostrils with every breath as, with face +flushed and eyes straight before her, she rode slowly toward the crowd. +What was she about? Rome stood rigid, his forgotten pistols hanging at +each side; the mouth of the drunken mountaineer was open with stupid +wonder; the rest fell apart as she came around the corner of the cabin +and, through the space given, rode slowly, her skirt almost brushing +Rome, looking neither to the right nor to the left; and when she had +gone quite through them all, she wheeled and rode, still slowly, through +the open fields toward the woods which sheltered the Lewallens, while +the crowd stood in bewildered silence looking after her. Yells of +laughter came from the old court-house. Some of the Stetsons laughed, +too; some swore, a few grumbled; but there was not one who was not +stirred by the superb daring of the girl, though she had used it only to +show her contempt. + +"Rome, you're a fool; though, fer a fac', we can't shoot a woman; 'n' +anyways I ruther shoot her than the hoss. But lemme tell ye, thar was +more'n sump'n to eat in that bag! They air up to some dodge." + +Rufe Stetson had watched the incident through a port-hole of the cabin, +and his tone was at once jesting and anxious. + +"That grub won't last more'n one day, I reckon," said the drunken +mountaineer. "We'll watch out fer the gal nex' time. We're boun' to git +'em one time or t'other." + +"She rid through us to find out how many of us wasn't dead drunk," said +Steve Marcum, still watching the girl as she rode on, toward the woods; +"'n' I'm a-thinkin' they'll be down on us purty soon now, 'n' I reckon +we'll have to run fer it. Look thar boys!" + +The girl had stopped at the edge of the woods; facing the town, she +waved her bonnet high above her head. + +"Well, whut in the--!" he said, with slow emphasis, and then he leaped +from the door with a yell. The bonnet was a signal to the beleaguered +Lewallens. The rear door of the courthouse had been quietly opened, and +the prisoners were out in a body and scrambling over the fence before +the pickets could give an alarm. The sudden yells, the crack of +Winchesters, startled even the revellers and all who could, headed by +Rome and Steve Marcum, sprang into the square, and started in pursuit. +But the Lewallens had got far ahead, and were running in zigzag lines to +dodge the balls flying after them. Half-way to the woods was a gully +of red clay, and into this the fleetest leaped, and turned instantly to +cover their comrades. The Winchesters began to rattle from the woods, +and the bullets came like rain from everywhere. + +"T-h-up! T-h-up! T-h-up!" there were three of them--the peculiar soft, +dull messages of hot lead to living flesh. A Stetson went down; another +stumbled; Rufe Stetson, climbing the fence, caught at his breast with +an oath, and fell back. Rome and Steve dropped for safety to the ground. +Every other Stetson turned in a panic, and every Lewallen in the gully +leaped from it, and ran under the Lewallen fire for shelter in the +woods. The escape was over. + +"That was a purty neat trick," said Steve, wiping a red streak from his +cheek. "Nex' time she tries that, she'll git herself into trouble." + +At nightfall the wounded leader and the dead one were carried up the +mountain, each to his home; and there was mourning far into the night +on one bank of the Cumberland, and, serious though Rufe Stetson's wound +was, exultation on the other. But in it Rome could take but little part. +There had been no fault to find with him in the fight. But a reaction +had set in when he saw the girl flash in the moonlight past the sights +of his Winchester, and her face that day had again loosed within him a +flood of feeling that drove the lust for revenge from his veins. Even +now, while he sat in his own cabin, his 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 descent 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; for 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 +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 the northern 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 and gold +of new leaves and sunlight; and higher still waved the poplar blooms, +with honey ready on every crimson heart for the bees. Down in the valley +Rome Stetson could see about every little cabin pink clouds and +white clouds of peach and of apple blossoms. Amid the ferns about him +shade-loving trilliums showed their many-hued faces, and every opening +was thickly peopled with larkspur seeking the sun. The giant magnolia +and the umbrella-tree spread their great creamy flowers; the laurel +shook out myriads of pink and white bells, and the queen of mountain +flowers was stirring from sleep in the buds of the rhododendron. + +With the spring new forces pulsed the mountain air. The spirit of the +times reached even Hazlan. A railroad was coming up the river, so the +rumor was. When winter broke, surveyors had appeared; after them, mining +experts and purchasers of land. New ways of bread-making were open to +all, and the feudsman began to see that he could make food and clothes +more easily and with less danger than by sleeping with his rifle in the +woods, and by fighting men who had done him no harm. Many were tired of +fighting; many, forced into the feud, had fought unwillingly. Others had +sold their farms and wild lands, and were moving toward the Blue Grass +or westward. The desperadoes of each faction had fled the law or were +in its clutches. The last Lewallen was dead; the last Stetson was hidden +away in the mountains. There were left Mareums and Braytons, but only +those who felt safest from indictment; in these a spirit of hostility +would live for years, and, roused by passion or by drink, would do +murder now on one side of the Cumberland and now on the other; but the +Stetson-Lewallen feud, old Gabe believed, was at an end at last. + +All these things the miller told Rome Stetson, who well knew what they +meant. He was safe enough from the law while the people took no part +in his capture, but he grew apprehensive when he learned of the changes +going on in the valley. None but old Gabe knew where he was, to be sure, +but with his own enemies to guide the soldiers he could not hope +to remain hidden long. Still, with that love of the mountains +characteristic of all races born among them, he clung to his own land. +He would rather stay where he was the space of a year and die, he told +old Gabe passionately, than live to old age in another State. + +But there was another motive, and he did not hide it. On the other side +he had one enemy left--the last, too, of her race--who was more to him +than his own dead kindred, who hated him, who placed at his door all her +sorrows. For her he was living like a wolf in a cave, and old Gabe knew +it. Her he would not leave. + +"I tell ye, Rome, you've got to go. Thar's no use talkin'. Court comes +the fust Monday in June. The soldiers ull be hyeh. Hit won't be safe. +Thar's some that s'picions I know whar ye air now, 'n' they'll be +spyin', 'n' mebbe hit'll git me into trouble, too, aidin' 'n' abettin' a +man to git away who air boun' to the law." + +The two were sitting on the earthen floor of the cave before a little +fire, and Rome, with his hands about his knees and his brows knitted, +was staring into the yellow blaze. His unshorn hair fell to his +shoulders; his face was pale from insufficient food and exercise, and +tense with a look that was at once caged and defiant. + +"Uncle Gabe," he asked, quietly, for the old man's tone was a little +querulous, "air ye sorry ye holped me? Do ye blame me fer whut I've +done?" + +"No," said the old miller, answering both questions; "I don't. I believe +whut ye tol' me. Though, even ef ye had 'a' done it, I don't know as I'd +blame ye, seem' that it was a fa'r fight. I don't doubt he was doin' his +best to kill you." + +Rome turned quickly, his face puzzled and darkening. + +"Uncle Gabe, whut air you drivin' at?" The old man spat into the fire, +and shifted his position uneasily, as Rome's hand caught his knee. + +"Well, ef I have to tell ye, I s'pose I must. Thar's been nothin' +pertickler ag'in ye so fer, 'cept fer breakin' that confederatin' +statute 'bout bandin' fightin' men together; 'n' nobody was very anxious +to git hol' o' ye jes fer that, but now"--the old man stopped a moment, +for Rome's eyes were kindling--"they say that ye killed Jas Lew allen, +'n' that ye air a murderer; 'n' hit air powerful strange how all of +a suddint folks seem to be gittin' down on a man as kills his +fellow-creetur; 'n' now they means to hunt ye til they ketch ye." + +It was all out now, and the old man was relieved. Rome rose to his feet, +and in sheer agony of spirit paced the floor. + +"I tol' ye, Uncle Gabe, that I didn't kill him." + +"So ye did, 'n' I believe ye. But a feller seed you 'n' Steve comm' +from the place whar Jas was found dead, 'n' whar the dirt 'n' rock was +throwed about as by two bucks in spring-time. Steve says he didn't +do it, 'n' he wouldn't say you didn't. Looks to me like Steve did the +killn', 'n' was lyin' a leetle. He hain't goin' to confess hit to +save your neck; 'n' he can't no way, fer he hev lit out o' these +mount'ins--long ago." + +If Steve was out of danger, suspicion could not harm him, and Rome said +nothing. + +"Isom's got the lingerin' fever ag'in, 'n' he's outin his head. He's +ravin' 'bout that fight. Looks like ye tol' him 'bout it. He says,' +Don't tell Uncle Gabe'; 'n' he keeps sayin' it. Hit'll 'most kill him +ef you go 'way; but he wants ye to git out o' the mount'ins; 'n', Rome, +you've got to go." + +"Who was it, Uncle Gabe, that seed me 'n' Steve comm' 'way from thar?" + +"He air the same feller who hev been spyin' ye all the time this war's +been goin' on; hit's that dried-faced, snaky Eli Crump, who ye knocked +down 'n' choked up in Hazlan one day fer sayin' something ag'in Isom." + +"I knowed it--I knowed it--oh, ef I could git my fingers roun' his throat +once more--jes once more--I'd be 'mos' ready to die." + +He stretched out his hands as he strode back and forth, with his fingers +crooked like talons; his shadow leaped from wall to wall, and his voice, +filling the cave, was, for the moment, scarcely human. The old man +waited till the paroxysm was over and Rome had again sunk before the +fire. + +"Hit 'u'd do no good, Rome," he said, rising to go. "You've got enough +on ye now, without the sin o' takin' his life. You better make up yer +mind to leave the mountins now right 'way. You're a-gittin' no more'n +half-human, livin' up hyeh like a catamount. I don't see how ye kin +stand it. Thar's no hope o' things blowin' over, boy, 'n' givin' ye a +chance o' comm' out ag'in, as yer dad and yer grandad usen to do afore +ye. The citizens air gittin' tired o' these wars. They keeps out the +furriners who makes roads 'n' buys lands; they air ag'in' the law, +ag'in' religion, ag'in' yo' pocket, 'n' ag'in' mine. Lots o' folks hev +been ag'in' all this fightin' fer a long time, but they was too skeery +to say so. They air talkin' mighty big now, seem' they kin git soldiers +hyeh to pertect 'em. So ye mought as well give up the idea o' staying +hyeh, 'less'n ye want to give yourself up to the law." + +The two stepped from the cave, and passed through the rhododendrons till +they stood on the cliff overlooking the valley. The rich light lay like +a golden mist between the mountains, and through it, far down, the river +moaned like the wind of a coming storm. + +"Did ye tell the gal whut I tol' ye?" + +"Yes, Rome; hit wasn't no use. She says Steve's word's as good as yourn; +'n' she knowed about the crosses. Folks say she swore awful ag'in' ye +at young Jas's burial, 'lowin' that she'd hunt ye down herse'f, ef the +soldiers didn't ketch ye. I hain't seed her sence she got sick; 'pears +like ever'body's sick. Mebbe she's a leetle settled down now--no tellin'. +No use foolin' with her, Rome. You git away from hyeh. Don't you worry +'bout Isom--I'll take keer o' him, 'n' when he gits well, he'll want to +come atter ye, 'n' I'll let him go. He couldn't live hyeh without you. +But y'u must git away, Rome, 'n' git away mighty quick." + +With hands clasped behind him, Rome stood and watched the bent figure +slowly pick its way around the stony cliff. + +"I reckon I've got to go. She's ag'in' me; they're all ag'in' me. I +reckon I've jes got to go. Somehow, I've been kinder hopin'--" He closed +his lips to check the groan that rose to them, and turned again into the +gloom behind him. + + + + +XIV + +JUNE came. The wild rose swayed above its image along every little +shadowed stream, and the scent of wild grapes was sweet in the air and +as vagrant as a bluebird's note in autumn. The rhododendrons burst into +beauty, making gray ridge and gray cliff blossom with purple, hedging +streams with snowy clusters and shining leaves, and lighting up +dark coverts in the woods as with white stars. The leaves were full, +woodthrushes sang, and bees droned like unseen running water in the +woods. + +With June came circuit court once more-and the soldiers. Faint music +pierced the dreamy chant of the river one morning as Rome lay on a +bowlder in the summer sun; and he watched the guns flashing like another +stream along the water, and then looked again to the Lewallen cabin. +Never, morning, noon, or night, when he came from the rhododendrons, or +when they closed about him, did he fail to turn his eyes that way. Often +he would see a bright speck moving about the dim lines of the cabin, +and he would scarcely breathe while he watched it, so easily would it +disappear. Always he had thought it was Martha, and now he knew it was, +for the old miller had told him more of the girl, and had wrung his +heart with pity. She had been ill a long while. The "furriners" had +seized old Jasper's cabin and land. The girl was homeless, and she did +not know it, for no one had the heart to tell her. She was living +with the Braytons; and every day she went to the cabin, "moonin'n' +sorrowin' aroun'," as old Gabe said; and she was much changed. + +Once more the miller came-for the last time, he said, firmly. Crump had +trailed him, and had learned where Rome was. The search would begin next +day-perhaps that very night-and Crump would guide the soldiers. Now he +must go, and go quickly. The boy, too, sent word that unless Rome went, +he would have something to tell. Old Gabe saw no significance in the +message; but he had promised to deliver it, and he did. Rome wavered +then; Steve and himself gone, no suspicion would fall on the lad. If he +were caught, the boy might confess. With silence Rome gave assent, and +the two parted in an apathy that was like heartlessness. Only old Gabe's +shrunken breast heaved with something more than weariness of descent, +and Rome stood watching him a long time before he turned back to the +cave that had sheltered him from his enemies among beasts and men. In +a moment he came out for the last time, and turned the opposite way. +Climbing about the spur, he made for the path that led down to the +river. When he reached it he glanced at the sun, and stopped in +indecision. Straight above him was a knoll, massed with rhododendrons, +the flashing leaves of which made it like a great sea-wave in the +slanting sun, while the blooms broke slowly down over it like foam. +Above this was a gray sepulchre of dead, standing trees, more gaunt and +spectre-like than ever, with the rich life of summer about it. Higher +still were a dark belt of stunted firs and the sandstone ledge, and +above these-home. He was risking his liberty, his life. Any clump of +bushes might bristle suddenly with Winchesters. If the soldiers sought +for him at the cave they would at the same time guard the mountain +paths; they would guard, too, the Stetson cabin. But no matter-the sun +was still high, and he turned up the steep. The ledge passed, he stopped +with a curse at his lips and the pain of a knife-thrust at his heart. +A heap of blackened stones and ashes was before him. The wild +mountain-grass was growing up about it. The bee-gums were overturned and +rifled. The garden was a tangled mass of weeds. The graves in the little +family burying-ground were unprotected, the fence was gone, and no +boards marked the last two ragged mounds. Old Gabe had never told him. +He, too, like Martha, was homeless, and the old miller had been kind to +him, as the girl's kinspeople had been to her. + +For a long while he sat on the remnant of the burned and broken fence, +and once more the old tide of bitterness rose within him and ebbed away. +There were none left to hate, to wreak vengeance on. It was hard to +leave the ruins as they were; and yet he would rather leave weeds and +ashes than, like Martha, have some day to know that his home was in the +hands of a stranger. When he thought of the girl he grew calmer; his own +sorrows gave way to the thought of hers; and half from habit he raised +his face to look across the river. Two eagles swept from a dark ravine +under the shelf of rock where he had fought young Jasper, and made for +a sun-lighted peak on the other shore. From them his gaze fell to Wolf's +Head and to the cabin beneath, and a name passed his lips in a whisper. + +Then he took the path to the river, and he found the canoe where old +Gabe had hidden it. Before the young moon rose he pushed into the stream +and drifted with the current. At the mouth of the creek that ran over +old Gabe's water-wheel he turned the prow to the Lewallen shore. + +"Not yit! Not yit!" he said. + + + + +XV + +THAT night Rome passed in the woods, with his rifle, in a bed of +leaves. Before daybreak he had built a fire in a deep ravine to cook his +breakfast, and had scattered the embers that the smoke should give no +sign. The sun was high when he crept cautiously in sight of the Lewallen +cabin. It was much like his own home on the other shore, except that the +house, closed and desolate, was standing, and the bees were busy. At the +corner of the kitchen a rusty axe was sticking in a half-cut piece of +timber, and on the porch was a heap of kindling and fire wood-the last +work old Jasper and his son had ever done. In the Lewallens' garden, +also, two graves were fresh; and the spirit of neglect and ruin overhung +the place. + +All the morning he waited in the edge of the laurel, peering down the +path, watching the clouds race with their shadows over the mountains, or +pacing to and fro in his covert of leaves and flowers. He began to fear +at last that she was not coming, that she was ill, and once he started +down the mountain toward Steve Brayton's cabin. The swift descent +brought him to his senses, and he stopped half-way, and climbed back +again to his hiding-place. What he was doing, what he meant to do, he +hardly knew. Mid-day passed; the sun fell toward the mountains, and once +more came the fierce impulse to see her, even though he must stalk into +the Brayton cabin. Again, half-crazed, he started impetuously through +the brush, and shrank back, and stood quiet. A little noise down the +path had reached his ear. In a moment he could hear slow foot-falls, and +the figure of the girl parted the pink-and-white laurel blossoms, which +fell in a shower about her when she brushed through them. She passed +quite near him, walking slowly, and stopped for a moment to rest against +a pillar of the porch. She was very pale; her face was traced deep with +suffering, and she was, as old Gabe said, much changed. Then she went +on toward the garden, stepping with an effort over the low fence, and +leaned as if weak and tired against the apple-tree, the boughs of which +shaded the two graves at her feet. For a few moments she stood there, +listless, and Rome watched her with hungry eyes, at a loss what to do. +She moved presently, and walked quite around the graves without looking +at them; then came back past him, and, seating herself in the porch, +turned her face to the river. The sun lighted her hair, and in the +sunken, upturned eyes Rome saw the shimmer of tears. + +"Marthy!" He couldn't help it--the thick, low cry broke like a groan +from his lips, and the girl was on her feet, facing him. She did not +know the voice, nor the shaggy, half-wild figure in the shade of the +laurel; and she started back as if to run; but seeing that the man did +not mean to harm her, she stopped, looking for a moment with wonder and +even with quick pity at the hunted face with its white appeal. Then a +sudden spasm caught her throat, and left her body rigid, her hands shut, +and her eyes dry and hard--she knew him. A slow pallor drove the flush of +surprise from her face, and her lips moved once, but there was not even +a whisper from them. Rome raised one hand before his face, as though to +ward off something. "Don't look at me that way, Marthy--my God, don't! I +didn't kill him. I sw'ar it! I give him a chance fer his life. I know, +I know--Steve says he didn't. Thar was only us two. Hit looks ag'in' +me; but I hain't killed one nur t'other. I let 'em both go. Y'u don't +believe me?" He went swiftly toward her, his gun outstretched. "Hyeh, +gal! I heerd ye swore ag' in' me out thar in the gyarden--'lowin' that +you was goin' to hunt me down yerself if the soldiers didn't. Hyeh's yer +chance!" + +The girl shrank away from him, too startled to take the weapon; and he +leaned it against her, and stood away, with his hands behind him. + +"Kill me ef ye think I'm a-lyin' to ye," he said. "Y'u kin git even with +me now. But I want to tell ye fust"--the girl had caught the muzzle of +the gun convulsively, and was bending over it, her eyes burning, her +face inscrutable--"hit was a fa'r fight betwixt us, 'n' I whooped him. He +got his gun then, 'n' would 'a' killed me ag'in' his oath ef he hadn't +been shot fust. Hit's so, too, 'bout the crosses. I made 'em; they're +right thar on that gun; but whut could I do with mam a-standin' right +thar with the gun 'n' Uncle Rufe a-tellin' 'bout my own dad layin' in +his blood, 'n' Isom 'n' the boys lookin' on! But I went ag'in' my oath; +I gave him his life when I had the right to take it. I could 'a' killed +yer dad once, 'n' I had the right to kill him, too, fer killin' mine; +but I let him go, 'n' I reckon I done that fer ye, too. 'Pears like I +hain't done nothin' sence I seed ye over thar in the mill that day that +wasn't done fer ye. Somehow ye put me dead ag'in' my own kin, 'n' tuk +away all my hate ag'in' yourn. I couldn't fight fer thinkin' I was +fightin' you, 'n' when I seed ye comm' through the bushes jes now, so +white 'n' sickly-like, I couldn't hardly git breath, a-thinkin' I was +the cause of all yer misery. That's all!" He stretched out his arms. +"Shoot, gal, ef ye don't believe me. I'd jes as lieve die, ef ye thinks +I'm lyin' to ye, 'n' ef ye hates me fer whut I hain't done." + +The gun had fallen to the earth. The girl, trembling at the knees, sank +to her seat on the porch, and, folding her arms against the pillar, +pressed her forehead against them, her face unseen. Rome stooped to pick +up the weapon. + +"I'm goin' 'way now," he went on, slowly, after a little pause, "but I +couldn't leave hyeh without seem' you. I wanted ye to know the truth, +'n' I 'lowed y'u'd believe me ef I tol' ye myself. I've been a-waitin' +thar in the lorrel fer ye sence mornin'. Uncle Gabe tol' me ye come hyeh +ever' day. He says I've got to go. I've been hopin' I mought come out o' +the bushes some day. But Uncle Gabe says ever'body's ag'in' me more' n +ever, 'n' that the soldiers mean to ketch me. The gov'ner out thar in +the settlements says as how he'll give five hundred dollars fer me, +livin' or dead. He'll nuver git me livin'--I've swore that--'n' as I hev +done nothin' sech as folks on both sides hev done who air walkin' +roun' free, I hain't goin' to give up. Hit's purty hard to leave these +mount'ins. Reckon I'll nuver see 'em ag'in. Been livin' like a catamount +over thar on the knob. I could jes see you over hyeh, 'n' I reckon +I hain't done much 'cept lay over thar on a rock 'n' watch ye movin' +round. Hit's mighty good to feel that ye believe me, 'n' I want ye to +know that I been stayin' over thar fer nothin' on earth but jes to see +you ag'in; 'n' I want ye to know that I was a-sorrowin' fer ye when +y'u was sick, 'n' a-pinin' to see ye, 'n' a-hopin' some day y'u +mought kinder git over yer hate fer me." He had been talking with low +tenderness, half to himself, and with his face to the river, and he did +not see the girl's tears falling to the porch. Her sorrow gave way in +a great sob now, and he turned with sharp remorse, and stood quite near +her. + +"Don't cry, Marthy," he said. "God knows hit's hard to think I've +brought all this on ye when I'd give all these mount'ins to save ye +from it. Whut d' ye say? Don't cry." + +The girl was trying to speak at last, and Rome bent over to catch the +words. + +"I hain't cryin' fer myself," she said, faintly, and then she said no +more; but the first smile that had passed over Rome's face for many a +day passed then, and he put out one big hand, and let it rest on the +heap of lustrous hair. + +"Marthy, I hate to go 'way, leavin' ye hyeh with nobody to take keer o' +ye. You're all alone hyeh in the mount'ins; I'm all alone; 'n' I reckon +I'll be all alone wharever I go, ef you stay hyeh. I got a boat down +thar on the river, 'n' I'm goin' out West whar Uncle Rufe use to live. I +know I hain't good fer nothin' much"--he spoke almost huskily; he could +scarcely get the words to his lips--"but I want ye to go with me. Won't +ye?" + +The girl did not answer, but her sobbing ceased slowly, while Rome +stroked her hair; and at last she lifted her face, and for a moment +looked to the other shore. Then she rose. There is a strange pride in +the Kentucky mountaineer. + +"As you say, Rome, thar's nobody left but you, 'n' nobody but me; but +they burned you out, we hain't even--yit." Her eyes were on Thunderstruck +Knob, where the last sunlight used to touch the Stetson cabin. + +"Hyeh, Rome!" He knew what she meant, and he kneeled at the pile of +kindling-wood near the kitchen door. Then they stood back and waited. +The sun dipped below a gap in the mountains, the sky darkened, and the +flames rose to the shingled porch, and leaped into the gathering dusk. +On the outer edge of the quivering light, where it touched the blossomed +laurel, the two stood till the blaze caught the eaves of the cabin; and +then they turned their faces where, burning to ashes in the west, was +another fire, whose light blended in the eyes of each with a light older +and more lasting than its own--the light eternal. + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox, Jr. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CUMBERLAND VENDETTA *** + +***** This file should be named 3022.txt or 3022.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/2/3022/ + +Produced by David Reed + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + +Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com + +A Cumberland Vendetta +by John Fox Jr. + +TO MINERVA AND ELIZABETH + +A Cumberland Vendetta + +I + +THE cave had been their hiding-place as children; it was a secret +refuge now against hunger or darkness when they were hunting in +the woods. The primitive meal was finished; ashes were raked +over the red coals; the slice of bacon and the little bag of meal +were hung high against the rock wall; and the two stepped from +the cavern into a thicket of rhododendrons. + +Parting the bushes toward the dim light, they stood on a massive +shoulder of the mountain, the river girding it far below, and the +afternoon shadows at their feet. Both carried guns-the tall +mountaineer, a Winchester; the boy, a squirrel rifle longer than +himself. Climbing about the rocky spur, they kept the same level +over log and bowlder and through bushy ravine to the north. In half +an hour, they ran into a path that led up home from the river, and +they stopped to rest on a cliff that sank in a solid black wall +straight under them. The sharp edge of a steep corn-field ran near, +and, stripped of blade and tassel, the stalks and hooded ears looked +in the coming dusk a little like monks at prayer. In the sunlight +across the river the corn stood thin and frail. Over there a drought +was on it; and when drifting thistle-plumes marked the noontide of +the year, each yellow stalk had withered blades and an empty +sheath. Every-where a look of vague trouble lay upon the face of +the mountains, and when the wind blew, the silver of the leaves +showed ashen. Autumn was at hand. + +There was no physical sign of kinship between the two, +half-brothers though they were. The tall one was dark; the boy, a +foundling, had flaxen hair, and was stunted and ~lender. He was a +dreamy~looking little fellow, and one may easily find his like +throughout the Cumberland -paler than his fellows, from staying +much indoors, with half-haunted face, and eyes that are deeply +pathetic when not cunning; ignorantly credited with idiocy and +uncanny powers; treated with much forbearance, some awe, and a +little contempt; and suffered to do his pleasure-nothing, or much +that is strange-without comment. + +"I tell ye, Rome," he said, taking up the thread of talk that was +broken at the cave, "when Uncle Gabe says he's afeard thar's +trouble comm', hit's a-comm'; 'n' I want you to git me a Winchester. +I'm a-gittin' big enough now. I kin shoot might' nigh as good as +you, 'n' whut am I fit fer with this hyeh old pawpaw pop-gun?" + +"I don't want you fightin', boy, I've told ye. Y'u air too little 'n' +puny, 'n' I want ye to stay home 'n' take keer o' mam 'n' the cattle-ef +fightin' does come, I reckon thar won't be triuch." + +Don't ye? " cried the boy, with sharp contempt-" with ole Jas +Lewallen a-devilin' Uncle Rufe, 'n' that blackheaded young Jas +a-climbin' on stumps over thar 'cross the river, n' crowin' n' sayin' +out open in Hazlan that ye air afeard o him? Yes; 'n' he called me a +idgit." The boy's voice broke into a whimper of rage. + +"Shet up, Isom! Don't you go gittin' mad now. You'll be sick ag'in. +I'll tend to him when the time comes." Rome spoke with rough +kindness, but ugly lines had gathered at his mouth and forehead. +The boy's tears came and went easily. He drew his sleeve across +his eyes, and looked up the river. Beyond the bend, three huge +birds rose into the sunlight and floated toward them. Close at +hand, they swerved side-wise. + +"They hain't buzzards," he said, standing up, his anger gone; "look +at them straight wings! + +Again the eagles swerved, and two shot across the river. The third +dropped with shut wings to the bare crest of a gaunt old poplar +under them. + +"Hit's a young un, Rome Y" said the boy, excitedly. "He's goin' to +wait thar tell the old uns come back. Gimme that gun! + +Catching up the Winchester, he slipped over the ledge; and Rome +leaned suddenly forward, looking down at the river. + +A group of horsemen had ridden around the bend, and were +coming at a walk down the other shore. Every man carried +something across his saddle-bow. There was a gray horse among +them - young Jasper's - and an evil shadow came into Rome's face, +and quickly passed. Near a strip of woods the gray turned up the +mountain from the party, and on its back he saw the red glint of a +woman's dress. With a half-smile he watched the scarlet figure ride +from the woods, and climb slowly up through the sunny corn. On +the spur above and full in the rich yellow light, she halted, half +turning in her saddle. He rose to his feet, to his full height, his +head bare, and thrown far back between his big shoulders, and, +still as statues, the man and the woman looked at each other across +the gulf of darkening air. A full minute the woman sat motionless, +then rode on. At the edge of the woods she stopped and turned +again. + +The eagle under Rome leaped one stroke in the air, and dropped +like a clod into the sea of leaves. The report of the gun and a faint +cry of triumph rose from below. It was good marksmanship, but +on the cliff Rome did not heed it. Something had fluttered in the +air above the girl's head, and he laughed aloud. She was waving +her bonnet at him. + +II + +JUST where young Stetson stood, the mountains racing along each +bank of the Cumberland had sent out against each other, by mutual +impulse, two great spurs. At the river's brink they stopped sheer, +with crests uplifted, as though some hand at the last moment had +hurled them apart, and had led the water through the breach to +keep them at peace. To-day the crags looked seamed by thwarted +passion; and, sullen with firs, they made fit symbols of the human +hate about the base of each. + +When the feud began, no one knew. Even the original cause was +forgotten. Both families had come as friends from Virginia long +ago, and had lived as enemies nearly half a century. There was +hostility before the war, but, until then, little bloodshed. Through +the hatred of change, characteristic of the mountaineer the world +over, the Lewallens were for the Union. The Stetsons owned a few +slaves, and they fought for them. Peace found both still neighbors +and worse foes. The war armed them, and brought back an +ancestral contempt for human life; it left them a heritage of +lawlessness that for mutual protection made necessary the very +means used by their feudal forefathers; personal hatred supplanted +its dead issues, and with them the war went on. The Stetsons had a +good strain of Anglo-Saxon blood, and owned valley-lands; the +Lewallens kept store and made "moonshine"; so kindred and +debtors and kindred and tenants were arrayed with one or the other +leader, and gradually the retainers of both settled on one or the +other side of the river. In time of hostility the Cumberland came +to be the boundary between life and death for the dwellers on each +shore. It was feudalism born again. + +Above one of the spurs each family had its home; the Stetsons, +under the seared face of Thunderstruck Knob; the Lewallens, just +beneath the wooded rim of Wolf's Head. The eaves and chimney +of each cabin were faintly visible from the porch of the other. The +first light touched the house of the Stetsons; the last, the Lewallen +cabin. So there were times when the one could not turn to the +sunrise nor the other to the sunset but with a curse in his heart, for +his eye must fall on the home of his enemy. + +For years there had been peace. The death of Rome Stetson's +father from ambush, and the fight in the court-house square, had +forced it. After that fight only four were left-old Jasper Lewallen +and young Jasper, the boy Rome and his uncle, Rufe Stetson. +Then Rufe fled to the West, and the Stetsons were helpless. For +three years no word was heard of him, but the hatred burned in the +heart of Rome's mother, and was traced deep in her grim old face +while she patiently waited the day of retribution. It smouldered, +too, in the hearts of the women of both clans who had lost +husbands or sons or lovers; and the friends and kin of each had +little to do with one another, and met and passed with watchful +eyes. Indeed, it would take so little to turn peace to war that the +wonder was that peace had lived so long. Now trouble was at hand. +Rufe Stetson had come back at last, a few 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 open the war, and they believed Rufe had gone for arms. +So they had chafed in the store all day, and all day Lewallens on +horseback and on foot were in sight; and each was a taunt to every +Stetson, and, few as they were, the young and hot-headed wanted +to go out and fight. In the afternoon a tale-bearer had brought some +of Jasper's boasts to Rome, and, made reckless by moonshine and +much brooding, he sprang up to lead them. Steve Marcum, too, +caught up his gun, but old Sam's counsel checked him, and the two +by force held Rome back. A little later the Lewallens left town. +The Stetsons, too, disbanded, and on the way home a last drop of +gall ran Rome's cup of bitterness over. Opposite Steve Brayton's +cabin a jet of smoke puffed from the bushes across the river, and a +bullet furrowed the road in front of him. That was the shot they +had heard at the mill. Somebody was drawing a dead-line," and +Rome wheeled his horse at the brink of it. A mocking yell came +over the river, and a gray horse flashed past an open space in the +bushes. Rome knew the horse and knew the yell; young Jasper +was "bantering" him. Nothing maddens the mountaineer like this +childish method of insult; and telling of it, Rome sat in a corner, +and loosed a torrent of curses against young Lewallen and his clan. + +Old Gabe had listened without a word, and the strain in his face +was eased. Always the old man had stood for peace. He believed +it had come after the court-house fight, and he had hoped against +hope, even when Rufe came back to trade against old Jasper; for +Rufe was big and good-natured, and unsuspected of resolute +purpose, and the Lewallens' power had weakened. So, now that +Rufe was gone again, the old miller half believed he was gone for +good. Nobody was hurt; there was a chance yet for peace, and with +a rebuke on his tongue and relief in his face, the old man sat back +in his chair and went on whittling. The boy turned eagerly to a +crevice in the logs and, trembling with excitement, searched the +other bank for Jasper's gray horse, going home. + +He called me a idgit," he said to himself, with a threatening shake +of his head. "Jes wouldn't I like to hev a chance at him! Rome ull +git him! Rome ull git him!" + +There was no moving point of white on the broad face of the +mountains nor along the river road. Jasper was yet to come and, +with ears alert to every word behind him, the lad fixed his eyes +where he should see him first. + +"Oh, he didn't mean to hit me. Not that he ain't mean enough to +shoot from the bresh," Rome broke out savagely. "That's jes whut +I'm afeard he will do. Thar was too much daylight fer him. Ef he +jes don't come a-sneakin' over hyeh, 'n' waitin' in the lorrel atter +dark fer me, it's all I axe." + +Waitin' in the lorrel! " Old Gabe could hold back no longer. "Hit's +a shame, a burn-in' shame! I don' know whut things air comm' to! +'Pears like all you young folks think about is killin' somebody. +Folks usen to talk about how fer they could kill a deer; now it's +how fer they kin kill a man. I hev knowed the time when a man +would 'a' been druv out o' the county fer drawin' a knife ur a pistol; +'n' ef a feller was ever killed, it was kinder accidental, by a Barlow. +I reckon folks got use' to weepons 'n' killin' 'n' bushwhackin' in the +war. Looks like it's been gittin' wuss ever sence, 'n' now hit's dirk 'n' +Winchester, 'n' shootin' from the bushes all the time. Hit's wuss 'n +stealin' money to take a feller-creetur' s life that way! + +The old miller's indignation sprang from memories of a better +youth. For the courtesies of the code went on to the Blue Grass, +and before the war the mountaineer fought with English fairness +and his fists. It was a disgrace to use a deadly weapon in those +days; it was a disgrace now not to use it. + +Oh, I know all the excuses folks make," he went on: " hit's fa'r fer +one as 'tis fer t'other; y'u can't fight a man fa'r 'n' squar' who'll shoot +you in the back; a pore man can't fight money in the couhts; 'n' thar +hain't no witnesses in the lorrel but leaves; 'n' dead men don't hev +much to say. I know it all. Hit's cur'us, but it act'-ally looks like +lots o' decent young folks hev got usen to the idee-thar's so much +of it goin' on, 'n' thar's so much talk 'bout killin' 'n' layin' out in the +lorrel. Reckon folks 'll git to pesterm' women n' strangers bimeby, +'n' robbin' 'n' thievin'. Hit's bad enough thar's so leetle law thet +folks hev to take it in their own hands oncet in a while, but this +shootin' from the bresh-hit's p'int'ly a sin 'n' shame! Why," he +concluded, pointing his remonstrance as he always did, "I seed +your grandad and young Jas's fight up thar in Hazlan full two hours +'fore the war-fist and skull-'n' your grandad was whooped. They +got up and shuk hands. I don't see why folks can't fight that way +now. I wish Rufe 'n' old Jas 'n' you 'n' young Jas could have it out +fist and skull, 'n' stop this killin' o' people like hogs. Thar's nobody +left but you four. But thar's no chance o' that, I reckon." + +"I'll fight him anyway, 'n' I reckon ef he don't die till I lay out in the +lorrel fer him, he'll live a long time. Ef a Stetson ever done sech +meanness as that I never heerd it." + +Nother hev I," said the old man, with quick justice. " You air a +over-bearin' race, all o' ye, but I never knowed ye to be that mean. +Hit's all the wus fer ye thet ye air in sech doin's. I tell ye, Rome-- + +A faint cry rose above the drone of the millstones, and old Gabe +stopped with open lips to listen. The boy's face was pressed close +to the logs. A wet paddle had flashed into the sunlight from out +the bushes across the river. He could just see a canoe in the +shadows under them, and with quick suspicion his brain pictured +Jasper's horse hitched in the bushes, and Jasper stealing across the +river to waylay Rome. But the canoe moved slowly out of sight +downstream and toward the deep water, the paddler unseen, and +the boy looked around with a weak smile. Neither seemed to have +heard him. Rome was brooding, with his sullen face in his hands; +the old miller was busy with his own thoughts; and the boy turned +again to his watch. + +Jasper did not come. Isom's eyes began to ache from the steady +gaze, and now and then he would drop them to the water swirling +beneath. A slow wind swayed the overhanging branches at the +mouth of the stream, and under them was an eddy. Escaping this, +the froth and bubbles raced out to the gleams beating the air from +the sunlit river. He saw one tiny fleet caught; a mass of yellow +scum bore down and, sweeping through bubbles and eddy, was +itself struck into fragments by something afloat. A tremulous +shadow shot through a space of sunlight into the gloom cast by a +thicket of rhododendrons, and the boy caught his breath sharply. A +moment more, and the shape of a boat and a human figure +quivered on the water running under him. The stern of a Lewallen +canoe swung into the basin, and he sprang to his feet. + +"Rome!" The cry cut sharply through the drowsy air. " Thar he is! +Hit's Jas" + +The old miller rose to his feet. The boy threw himself behind the +sacks of grain. Rome wheeled for his rifle, and stood rigid before +the door. There was a light step without, the click of a gun-lock +within; a shadow fell across the doorway, and a girl stood at the +threshold with an empty bag in her hand. + +V + +WITH a little cry she shrank back a step. Her face paled and her +lips trembled, and for a moment she could not speak. But her eyes +swept the group, and were fixed in two points of fire on Rome. + +"Why don't ye shoot! "she asked, scornfully. + +"I hev heerd that the Stetsons have got to makin war on +women-folks, but I never believed it afore." Then she turned to +the miller. + +Kin I git some more meal hyeh? " she asked. " Or have ye stopped +sellin' to folks on t'other side? " she added, in a tone that sought no +favor. + +"You kin have all ye want," said old Gabe, quietly. + +"The mill on Dead Crick is broke ag'in," she continued, " 'n' co'n is +skeerce on our side. We'll have to begin buyin' purty soon, so I +thought I'd save totin' the co'n down hyeh." She handed old Gabe +the empty bag. + +Well,'' said he, '' as it air gittin' late, 'n' ye have to climb the +mountain ag'in, I'll let ye have that comm' out o' the hopper now. +Take a cheer." + +The girl sat down in the low chair, and, loos ening the strings of +her bonnet, pushed it back from her head. An old-fashioned horn +comb dropped to the floor, and when she stooped to pick it up she +let her hair fall in a head about her shoulders. Thrusting one hand +under it, she calmly tossed the whole mass of chestnut and gold +over the back of the chair, where it fell rippling like water through +a bar of sunlight. With head thrown back and throat bared, she +shook it from side to side, and, slowly coiling it, pierced it with the +coarse comb. Then passing her hands across her forehead and +temples, as women do, she folded them in her lap, and sat +motionless. The boy, crouched near, held upon her the mesmeric +look of a serpent. Old Gabe was peering covertly from under the +brim of his hat, with a chuckle at his lips. Rome had fallen back to +a corner of the mill, sobered, speechless, his rifle in a nerveless +hand. The passion that fired him at the boy's warning had as +swiftly gone down at sight of the girl, and her cutting rebuke made +him hot again with shame. He was angry, too-more than +angry-because he felt so helpless, a sensation that was new and +stifling. The scorn of her face, as he remembered it that morning, +hurt him again while he looked at her. A spirit of contempt was +still in her eyes, and quivering about her thin lips and nostrils. She +had put him beneath further notice, and yet every toss of her head, +every movement of her hands, seemed meant for him, to irritate +him. And once, while she combed her hair, his brain whirled with +an impulse to catch the shining stuff in one hand and to pinion +both her wrists with the other, Just to show her that he was master, +and still would harm her not at all. But he shut his teeth, and +watched her. Among mountain women the girl was more than +pretty; elsewhere only her hair, perhaps, would have caught the +casual eye. She wore red homespun and coarse shoes; her hands +were brown and hardened. Her arms and shoulders looked +muscular, her waist was rather large-being as nature meant it-and +her face in repose had a heavy look. But the poise of her head +suggested native pride and dignity; her eyes were deep, and full of +changing lights; the scarlet dress, loose as it was, showed rich +curves in her figure, and her movements had a certain childlike +grace. Her brow was low, and her mouth had character; the chin +was firm, the upper lip short, and the teeth were even and white. + +"I reckon thar's enough to fill the sack, Isom," said the old miller, +breaking the strained silence of the group. The girl rose and +handed him a few pieces of silver. + +I reckon I'd better pay fer it all," she said. I s'pose I won't be over +hyeh ag'in." + +Old Gabe gave some of the coins back. + +"Y'u know whut my price al'ays is," he said. + +I'm obleeged," answered the girl, flushing. + +"Co'n hev riz on our side. I thought mebbe you charged folks over +thar more, anyways." + +"I sells fer the same, ef co'n is high ur low," was the answer. "This +side or t'other makes no diff'unce to me. I hev frien's on both +sides, 'n' I take no part in sech doin's as air a shame to the +mountains." + +There was a quick light of protest in the girl's dark eyes; but the +old miller was honored by both factions, and without a word she +turned to the boy, who was tying the sack. + +The boat's loose! " he called out, with. the string between his teeth; +and she turned again and ran out. Rome stood still. + +Kerry the sack out, boy, 'n' holp the gal." Old Gabe's voice was +stern, and the young mountaineer doggedly swung the bag to his +shoulders. The girl had caught the rope, and drawn the rude +dugout along the shore. + +"Who axed ye to do that?" she asked, angrily. + +Rome dropped the bag into the boat, and merely looked her in the +face. + +"Look hyeh, Rome Stetson"-the sound of his name from her lips +almost startled him-"I'll hev ye understan' that I don't want to be +bounden to you, nor none o' yer kin." + +Turning, she gave an impatient sweep with her paddle. The prow +of the canoe dipped and was motionless. Rome had caught the +stern, and the girl wheeled in hot anger. Her impulse to strike may +have been for the moment and no longer, or she may have read +swiftly no unkindness in the mountaineer's steady look; for the +uplifted oar was stayed in the air, as though at least she would hear +him. + +"I've got nothin' ag'in' you," he said, slowly, Jas Lewallen hev been +threatenin' me, 'n' I thought it was him, 'n' I was ready fer him, +when you come into the mill. I wouldn't hurt you nur no other +woman. Y'u ought to know it, 'n' ye do know it." + +The words were masterful, but said in a way that vaguely soothed +the girl's pride, and the oar was let slowly into the water. + +"I reckon y'u air a friend o' his," he added, still quietly. "I've seed +ye goin' up thar, but I've got nothin' ag'in' ye, whoever ye be." + +She turned on him a sharp look of suspicion. "I reckon I do be a +friend o' hisn," she said, deliberately; and then she saw that he was +in earnest. A queer little smile went like a ray of light from her +eyes to her lips, and she gave a quick stroke with her paddle. The +boat shot into the current, and was carried swiftly toward the +Cumberland. The girl stood erect, swaying through light and +shadow like a great scarlet flower blowing in the wind; and Rome +watched her till she touched the other bank. Swinging the sack out, +she stepped lightly after it, and, without looking behind her, +disappeared in the bushes. + +The boy Isom was riding away when Rome, turned, and old Gabe +was watching from the door of the mill. + +Who is that gal? " he asked, slowly. It seemed somehow that he +had known her a long while ago. A puzzled frown overlay his +face, and the old miller laughed. + +"You a-axin' who she be, 'n' she a-axin who you be, 'n' both o' ye +a-knowin' one 'nother sence ye was knee-high. Why, boy, hit's old +Jasper's gal-Marthy! + +VI + +IN a flash of memory Rome saw the girl as vividly as when he last +saw her years ago. +They had met at the mill, he with his father, she with hers. There +was a quarrel, and the two men were held apart. But the old sore +as usual was opened, and a week later Rome's father was killed +from the brush. He remembered his mother's rage and grief, her +calls for vcngeance, the uprising, the fights, plots, and ambushes. +He remembered the look the girl had given him that long ago, and +her look that day was little changed. + +When fighting began, she had been sent for safety to the sister of +her dead mother in another county. When peace came, old Jasper +married again and the girl refused to come home. Lately the +step-mother, too, had passed away, and then she came back to live. +All this the old miller told in answer to Rome's questions as the +two walked away in the twilight. This was why he had not +recognized her, and why her face yet seemed familiar even when +he crossed the river that morning. + +"Uncle Gabe, how do you reckon the gal knowed who I was?" + +"She axed me." + +"She axed you! Whar?" + +Over thar in the mill." The miller was watching the young +mountaineer closely. The manner of the girl was significant when +she asked who Rome was, and the miller knew but one reason +possible for his foolhardiness that morning. + +"Do you mean to say she have been over hyeh afore?" + +"Why, yes, come to think about it, three or four times while Isom +was sick, and whut she come fer I can't make out. The mill over +thar wasn't broke long, 'n' why she didn't go thar or bring more co'n +at a time, to save her the trouble o' so many trips, I can't see to save +me. + +Young Stetson was listening eagerly. Again the miller cast his +bait. + +Mebbe she's spyin'." + +Rome faced him, alert with suspicion; but old Gabe was laughing +silently. + +"Don't you be a fool, Rome. The gal comes and goes in that boat, +'n' she couldn't see a soul without my knowin' it. She seed ye ridin' +by one day, 'n' she looked mighty cur'us when I tole her who ye +was." + +Old Gabe stopped his teasing, Rome's face was so troubled, and +himself grew serious. + +"Rome," he said, earnestly, "I wish to the good Lord ye wasn't in +sech doin's. Ef that had been young Jas 'stid o' Marthy, I reckon ye +would 'a' killed him right thar." + +"I wasn't going to let him kill me," was the sullen answer. + +The two had stopped at a rickety gate swinging open on the road. +The young mountaineer was pushing a stone about with the toe of +his boot. He had never before listened to remonstrance with such +patience, and old Gabe grew bold. + +"You've been drinkin' ag'in, Rome," he said, sharply, " 'n' I know it. +Hit's been moonshine that's whooped you Stetsons, not the +Lewallens, long as I kin rickollect, 'n' it ull be moonshine ag'in ef +ye don't let it alone." + +Rome made no denial, no defence. "Uncle Gabe," he said slowly, +still busied with the stone, " hev that gal been over hyeh sence y'u +tol' her who I was?" + +The old man was waiting for the pledge that seemed on his lips, +but he did not lose his temper. + +Not till to-day," he said, quietly. + +Rome turned abruptly, and the two separated with no word of +parting. For a moment the miller watched the young fellow +striding away under his rifle. + +"I have been atter peace a good while," he said to himself, " but I +reckon thar's a bigger hand a-workin' now than mine." Then he +lifted his voice. "Ef Isom's too sick to come down to the mill +to-morrer, I wish you'd come 'n' holp me." + +Rome nodded back over his shoulder, and went on, with head bent, +along the river road. Passing a clump of pines at the next curve, he +pulled a bottle from his pocket. + +"Uncle Gabe's about right, I reckon," he said, half aloud; and he +raised it above his head to hurl it away, but checked it in mid-air. +For a moment he looked at the colorless liquid, then, with quick +nervousness, pulled the cork of sassafras leaves, gulped down the +pale moonshine, and dashed the bottle against the trunk of a beech. +The fiery stuff does its work in a hurry. He was thirsty when he +reached the mouth of a brook that tumbled down the mountain +along the pathway that would lead him home, and he stooped to +drink where the water sparkled in a rift of dim light from +overhead. Then he sat upright on a stone, with his wide hat-brim +curved in a crescent over his forehead, his hands caught about his +knees, and his eyes on the empty air. + +He was scarcely over his surprise that the girl was young +Lewallen's sister, and the discovery had wrought a curious change. +The piquant impulse of rivalry was gone, and something deeper +was taking its place. He was confused and a good deal troubled, +thinking it all over. He tried to make out what the girl meant by +looking at him from the mountain-side, by waving her bonnet at +him, and by coming to old Gabe's mill when she could have gone +to her own. To be sure, she did not know then who he was, and +she had stopped coming when she learned; but why had she +crossed again that day? Perhaps she too was bantering him, and he +was at once angry and drawn to her; for her mettlesome spirit +touched his own love of daring, even when his humiliation was +most bitter-when she told him he warred on women; when he held +out to her the branch of peace and she swept it aside with a stroke +of her oar. But Rome was little conscious of the weight of subtle +facts like these. His unseeing eyes went back to her as she combed +her hair. He saw the color in her cheeks, the quick light in her +eyes, the naked, full throat once more, and the wavering forces of +his unsteady brain centred in a stubborn resolution-to see it all +again. He would make Isom stay at home, if need be, and he +would take the boy's place at the mill. If she came there no more, +he would cross the river again. Come peace or war, be she friend +or enemy, he would see her. His thirst was fierce again, and, with +this half-drunken determination in his heart, he stooped once more +to drink from the cheerful little stream. As he rose, a loud curse +smote the air. The river, pressed between two projecting cliffs, +was narrow at that point, and the oath came across the water. An +instant later a man led a lamed horse from behind a bowlder, and +stooped to examine its leg. The dusk was thickening, but Rome +knew the huge frame and gray beard of old Jasper Lewallen. The +blood beat in a sudden tide at his temples, and, half by instinct, he +knelt behind a rock, and, thrusting his rifle through a crevice, +cocked it softly. + +Again the curse of impatience came over the still water, and old +Jasper rose and turned toward him. The glistening sight caught in +the centre of his beard. That would take him in the throat; it might +miss, and he let the sight fall till the bullet would cut the fringe of +gray hair into the heart. Old Jasper, so people said, had killed his +father in just this way; he had driven his uncle from the mountains; +he was trying now to revive the feud. He was the father of young +Jasper, who had threatened his life, and the father of the girl whose +contempt had cut him to the quick twice that day. Again her taunt +leaped through his heated brain, and his boast to the old miller +followed it. His finger trembled at the trigger. + +"No; by--, no! "he breathed between his teeth; and old Jasper +passed on, unharmed. + +VII + +NEXT day the news of Rufe Stetson's flight went down the river +on the wind, and before nightfall the spirit of murder was loosed +on both shores of the Cumberland. The more cautious warned old +Jasper. The Stetsons were gaining strength again, they said; so +were their feudsmen, the Marcums, enemies of the Braytons, old +Jasper's kinspeople. Keeping store, Rufe had made money in the +West, and money and friends right and left through the mountains. +With all his good-nature, he was a persistent hater, and he was +shrewd. He had waited the chance to put himself on the side of the +law, and now the law was with him. But old Jasper laughed +contemptuously. Rufe Stetson was gone again, he said, as he had +gone before, and this time for good. Rufe had tried to do what +nobody had done, or could do, while he was alive. Anyway, he +was reckless, and he cared little if war did come again. Still, the +old man prepared for a fight, and Steve Marcum on the other shore +made ready for Rufe's return. + +It was like the breaking of peace in feudal days. The close kin of +each leader were already about him, and now the close friends of +each took sides. Each leader trading in Hazlan had debtors +scattered through the mountains, and these rallied to aid the man +who had befriended them. There was no grudge but served a +pretext for partisanship in the coming war. Political rivalry had +wedged apart two strong families, the Marcums and Braytons; a +boundary line in dispute was a chain of bitterness; a suit in a +country court had sown seeds of hatred. +Sometimes it was a horse-trade, a fence left down, or a gate left +open, and the trespassing of cattle; in one instance, through spite, a +neighbor had docked the tail of a neighbor's horse-had " muled his +critter," as the owner phrased the outrage. There was no old sore +that was not opened by the crafty leaders, no slumbering bitterness +that they did not wake to life. " Help us to revenge, and we will +he!p you," was the whispered promise. So, had one man a grudge +against another, he could set his foot on one or the other shore, +sure that his enemy would be fighting for the other. + +Others there were, friends of neither leader, who, under stress of +poverty or hatred of work, would fight with either for food and +clothes; and others still, the ne'er-do-wells and outlaws, who +fought by the day or month for hire. Even these were secured by +one or the other faction, for Steve and old Jasper left no resource +untried, knowing well that the fight, if there was one, would be +fought to a quick and decisive end. The day for the leisurely feud, +for patient planning, and the slow picking off of men from one +side or the other, was gone. The people in the Blue Grass, who +had no feuds in their own country, were trying 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. No greeting passed. +The girl lifted her head with a little toss that deepened the set look +about the mountaineer's mouth; her lax figure grew tense as +though strung suddenly against some coming harm, and her eyes +searched the shadows without once resting on him. + +Whar's Uncle Gabe? " She spoke shortly, and as to a stranger. + +Gone to town," said Rome, composedly. He had schooled himself +for this meeting. + +When's he comm' back? + +Not 'fore night, I reckon." + +Whar's Isom? + +Isom's sick." + +Well, who's tendin' this mill? + +For answer he tossed the empty bag into the corner and, without +looking at her, picked up another bag. + +"I reckon ye see me, don't ye? " he asked, coolly. " Hev a cheer, +and rest a spell. Hit's a purty long climb whar you come from." + +The girl was confused. She stayed in the doorway, a little helpless +and suspicious. What was Rome Stetson doing here? His mastery +of the situation, his easy confidence, puzzled and irritated her. +Should she leave? The mountaineer was a Stetson, a worm to +tread on if it crawled across the path. It would be like backing +down before an enemy. He might laugh at her after she was gone, +and, at that thought, she sat down in the chair with composed face, +looking through the door at the tumbling water, which broke with +a thousand tints under the sun, but able still to see Rome, +sidewise, as he moved about the hopper, whistling softly. + +Once she looked around, fancying she saw a smile on his sober +face. Their eyes came near meeting, and she turned quite away. + +Ever seed a body out'n his head? + +The girl's eyes rounded with a start of surprise. + +Well, it's plumb cur'us. Isom's been that way lately. Isom's sick, +ye know. Uncle Gabe's got the rheumatiz, 'n' Isom's mighty fond o' +Uncle Gabe, 'n' the boy pestered me till I come down to he'p him. +Hit p'int'ly air strange to hear him talkin'. He's jes a-ravin' 'bout +hell 'n' heaven, 'n' the sin o' killin' folks. You'd ha' thought he hed +been convicted, though none o' our fambly hev been much atter +religion. He says as how the wrath uv a livin' God is a-goin' to +sweep these mount ins, ef some mighty tall repentin' hain't done. +Of co'se he got all them notions from Gabe. But Isom al'ays was +quar, 'n' seed things hisself. He ain't no fool!" + +The girl was listening. Morbidly sensitive to the supernatural, she +had turned toward him, and her face was relaxed with fear and +awe. + +"He's havin' dreams 'n' sech-like now, 'n' I reckon thar's nothing +he's seed or heerd that he don' talk about. He's been a-goin' on +about you," he added, abruptly. The girl's hands gave a nervous +twitch. "Oh, he don't say nothin' ag'in' ye. I reckon he tuk a fancy +to ye. Mam was plumb distracted, not knowin' whar he had seed +ye. She thought it was like his other talk, 'n' I never let +on-a-knowin' how mam was." A flush rose like a flame from the +girl's throat to her hair. " But hit's this," Rome went on in an +unsteady tone, "that he talks most about, 'n' I'm sorry myself that +trouble's a-comm'." He dropped all pretence now. "I've been +a-watchin' fer ye over thar on t' other shore a good deal lately. I +didn't know ye at fust, Marthy "-he spoke her name for the first +time-' 'n' Gabe says y'u didn't know me. I remembered ye, though, +'n' I want to tell ye now what I tol' ye then: I've got nothin' ag'in +you. I was hopin' ye mought come over ag'in-hit was sorter cur'us +that y'u was the same gal-the same gal-" + +His self-control left him; he was halting in speech, and blundering +he did not know where. Fumbling an empty bag at the hopper, he +had not dared to look at the girl till he heard her move. She had +risen, and was picking up her bag. The hard antagonism of her +face calmed him instantly. + +Hain't ye goin' to have yer grist ground? + +Not hyeh," she answered, quickly. + +"Why, gal " He got no further. Martha was gone, and he followed +her to the bank, bewildered. + +The girl's suspicion, lulled by his plausible explanation, had grown +sharp again. The mountaineer knew that she had been coming +there. He was at the mill for another reason than to take the boy's +place; and with swift in-tuition she saw the truth. + +He got angry as she rode away-angry with himself that he had let +her go; and the same half-tender, half-brutal impulse seized him as +when he saw her first. This time he yielded. His horse was at +hand, and the river not far below was narrow. The bridle-path that +led to the Lewallen cabin swerved at one place to a cliff +overlooking the river, and by hard riding and a climb of a few +hundred feet on foot he could overtake her half-way up the +mountain steep. + +The plan was no more than shaped before he was in the saddle and +galloping down the river. The set of his face changed hardly a line +while he swam the stream, and, drenched to the waist, scaled the +cliff. When he reached the spot, he found the prints of a woman's +shoe in the dust of the path, going down. There were none +returning, and he had not long to wait. A scarlet bit of color soon +flashed through the gray bushes below him. The girl was without +her bag of corn. She was climbing slowly, and was looking at the +ground as though in deep thought. Reckless as she was, she had +come to realize at last just what she had done. She had been +pleased at first, as would have been any woman, when she saw the +big mountaineer watching her, for her life was lonely. She had +waved her bonnet at him from mere mischief. She hardly knew it +herself, but she had gone across the river to find out who he was. +She had shrunk from him as from a snake thereafter, and had gone +no more until old Jasper had sent her because the Lewallen mill +was broken, and because she was a woman, and would be safe +from harm. She had met him then when she could not help +herself. But now she had gone of her own accord. She had given +this Stetson, a bitter enemy, a chance to see her, to talk with her. +She had listened to him; she had been on the point of letting him +grind her corn. And he knew how often she had gone to the mill, +and he could not know that she had ever been sent. Perhaps he +thought that she had come to make overtures of peace, friendship, +even more. The suspicion reddened her face with shame, and her +anger at him was turned upon herself. Why she had gone again that +day she hardly knew. But if there was another reason than simple +perversity, it was the memory of Rome Stetson's face when he +caught her boat and spoke to her in a way she could not answer. +The anger of the moment came with every thought of the incident +afterward, and with it came too this memory of his look, which +made her at once defiant and uneasy. She saw him now only when +she was quite close, and, startled, she stood still; his stern look +brought her the same disquiet, but she gave no sign of fear. + +Whut's the matter with ye? + +The question was too abrupt, too savage, and the girl looked +straight at him, and her lips tightened with a resolution not to +speak. The movement put him beyond control. + +"Y'u puts hell into me, Marthy Lewallen; y'u puts downright hell +into me." The words came between gritted teeth. "I want to take +ye up 'n' throw ye off this cliff clean into the river, 'n' I reckon the +next minute I'd jump off atter ye. Y'u've 'witched me, gal! I forgits +who ye air 'n' who I be, 'n' sometimes I want to come over hyeh 'n' +kerry ye out'n these mount ins, n' nuver come back. You know +whut I've been watchin' the river fer sence the fust time I seed ye. +You know whut I've been a-stayin' at the mill fer, 'n' Steve mad 'n' +mam a-jowerin'-'n' a-lookin' over hyeh fer ye night 'n' day! Y'u +know whut I've jes swum over hyeh fer! Whut's the matter with +ye?" + +Martha was not looking for a confession like this. It took away her +shame at once, and the passion of it thrilled her, and left her +trembling. While he spoke her lashes drooped quickly, her face +softened, and the color came back to it. She began intertwining her +fingers, and would not look up at him. + +Ef y'u hates me like the rest uv ye, why don't ye say it right out? +'N' ef ye do hate me, whut hev you been lookin' 'cross the river fer, +'n' a-shakin' yer bonnet at me, 'n' paddlin' to Gabe's fer yer grist, +when the mill on Dead Crick's been a-runnin', 'n' I know it? You've +been banterin' me, hev ye? "-the blood rose to his eyes again. " Ye +mustn't fool with me, gal, by , ye mustn't. Whut hev you been +goin' over thar fer? " He even took a threatening step toward her, +and, with a helpless gesture, stopped. The girl was a little +frightened. Indeed, she smiled, seeing her power over him; she +seemed even about to laugh outright; but the smile turned to a +quick look of alarm, and she bent her head suddenly to listen to +something below. At last she did speak. "Somebody's comm'! " +she said. " You'd better git out O' the way," she went on, +hurriedly. "Somebody's comm', I tell ye! Don't ye hear? + +It was no ruse to get rid of him. The girl's eyes were dilating. +Something was coming far below. Rome could catch the faint +beats of a horse's hoofs. He was unarmed, and he knew it was +death for him to be seen on that forbidden mountain; but he was +beyond caution, and ready to welcome any vent to his passion, and +he merely shook his head. + +Ef it's Satan hisself, I hain't goin' to run." The hoof-beats came +nearer. The rider must soon see them from the coil below. + +Rome, hit's Jas! He's got his rifle, and he'll kill ye, 'n' me too! " +The girl was white with distress. She had called him by his name, +and the tone was of appeal, not anger. The black look passed from +his face, and he caught her by the shoulders with rough tenderness; +but she pushed him away, and without a word he sprang from the +road and let himself noiselessly down the cliff. The hoof-beats +thundered above his head, and Young Jasper's voice hailed Martha. + +This hyeh's the bigges' meal I ever straddled. Why d'n't ye git the +grist ground?" + +For a moment the girl did not answer, and Rome waited, +breathless. " Wasn't the mill runnin'? Whyn't ye go on 'cross the +river? + +That's whut I did," said the girl, quietly. Uncle Gabe wasn't thar, 'n' +Rome Stetson was. I wouldn't 'low him to grin' the co 'n, 'n' so I +toted hit back." + +Rome Stetson! " The voice was lost in a volley of oaths. + +The two passed out of hearing, and Rome went plunging down the +mountain, swinging recklessly from one little tree to another, and +wrenching limbs from their sockets out of pure physical ecstasy. +When he reached his horse he sat down, breathing heavily, on a +bed of moss, with a strange new yearning in his heart. If peace +should come! Why not peace, if Rufe should not come back? He +would be the leader then, and without him there could be no war. +Old Jasper had killed his father. He was too young at the time to +feel poignant sorrow now, and somehow he could look even at that +death in a fairer way. His father had killed old Jasper's brother. +So it went back: a Lewallen killed a Stetson; that Stetson had +killed a Lewallen, until one end of the chain of deaths was lost, +and the first fault could not be placed, though each clan put it on +the other. In every generation there had been compromises- +periods of peace; why not now? Old Gabe would gladly help him. +He might make friends with young Jasper; he might even end the +feud. And then-he and Martha-why not? He closed his eyes, and +for one radiant moment t all seemed possible. And then a gaunt +image rose in the dream, and only the image was left. It was the +figure of his mother, stern and silent through the years, opening +her grim lips rarely without some curse against the Lewallen race. +He remembered she had smiled for the first time when she heard +of the new trouble-the flight of his uncle and the hope of conflict. +She had turned to him with her eyes on fire and her old hands +clinched. She had said nothing, but he understood her look. And +now-Good God! what would she think and say if she could know +what he had done? His whole frame twitched at the thought, and, +with a nervous spring to escape it, he was on his feet, and starting +down the mountain. + +Close to the river he heard voices below him, and he turned his +horse quickly aside into the bushes. Two women who had been +washing clothes passed, carrying white bundles home. They were +talking of the coming feud. + +"That ar young Stetson ain't much like his dad," said one. "Young +Jas has been a-darin' 'n' a-banterin' him, 'n' he won't take it up. They +say he air turnin' out a plumb coward." + +When he reached the Stetson cabin three horses with drooping +heads were hitched to the fence. All had travelled a long way. +One wore a man's saddle; on the others were thick blankets tied +together with leathern thongs. + +In the dark porch sat several men. Through the kitchen door he +could see his mother getting supper. Inside a dozen rifles leaned +against the wall in the firelight, and about their butts was a pile of +ammunition. In the doorway stood Rufe Stetson. + +IX + +ALL were smoking and silent. Several spoke from the shadows as +Rome stepped on the porch, and Rufe Stetson faced him a moment +in the doorway, and laughed. + +Seem kinder s'prised? " he said, with a searching look. " Wasn't +lookin' for me? I reckon I'll s'prise sev'ral ef I hev good-luck." + +The subtlety of this sent a chuckle of appreciation through the +porch, but Rome passed in without answer. + +Isom lay on his bed within the circle of light, and his face in the +brilliant glow was white, and his eyes shone feverishly. " Rome," +he said, excitedly, " Uncle Rufe's hyeh, 'n' they laywayed him, +'n'____" He paused abruptly. His mother came in, and at her call +the mountaineers trooped through the covered porch, and sat down +to supper in the kitchen. They ate hastily and in silence, the +mother attending their wants, and Rome helping her. The meal +finished, they drew their chairs about the fire. Pipes were lighted, +and Rufe Stetson rose and closed the door. + +Thar's no use harryin' the boy," he said; "I reckon he'll be too puny +to take a hand." + +The mother stopped clearing the table, and sat on the rock hearth +close to the fire, her withered lips shut tight about a lighted pipe, +and her sunken eyes glowing like the coal of fire in its black bowl. +Now and then she would stretch her knotted hands nervously into +the flames, or knit them about her knees, looking closely at the +heavy faces about her, which had lightened a little with +expectancy. Rufe Stetson stood before the blaze, his hands +clasped behind him, and his huge figure bent in reflection. At +intervals he would look with half-shut eyes at Rome, who Sat with +troubled face outside the firelight. Across the knees of Steve +Marcum, the best marksman in the mountains, lay the barrel of a +new Winchester. Old Sam Day, Rufe's father-in-law and +counsellor to the Stetsons for a score of years, sat as if asleep on +the opposite side of the fireplace from the old mother, with his big +square head pressed down between his misshapen shoulders. + +"The time hev come, Rome." Rufe spoke between the puffs of his +pipe, and Rome's heart quickened, for every eye was upon him. +Thar's goin' to be trouble now. I hear as how young Jasper hev +been talkin' purty tall about ye-'lowin' as how ye air afeard O' him." + +Rome felt his mother's burning look. He did not turn toward her +nor Rufe, but his face grew sullen, and his voice was low and +harsh. "I reckon he'll find out about that when the time comes," he +said, quietly-too quietly, for the old mother stirred uneasily, and +significant glances went from eye to eye. Rufe did not look up +from the floor. He had been told about Rome's peculiar conduct, +and, while the reason for it was beyond guessing, he knew the +temper of the boy and how to kindle it. He had thrust a thorn in a +tender spot, and he let it rankle. How sorely it did rankle he little +knew. The voice of the woman across the river was still in Rome 5 +ears. Nothing cuts the mountaineer to the quick like the name of +coward. It stung him like the lash of an ox-whip then; it smarted +all the way across the river and up the mountain. Young Jasper +had been charging him broadcast with cowardice, and Jasper's +people no doubt believed it. Perhaps his own did +-his uncle, his mother. The bare chance of such a humiliation set +up an inward rage. He wondered how he could ever have been +such a fool as to think of peace. The woman's gossip had swept +kindly impulses from his heart with a fresh tide of bitterness, and, +helpless now against its current, he sullenly gave way, and let his +passions loose to drift with it. + +"Whar d' ye git the guns, Rufe? " Steve was testing the action of +the Winchester with a kindling look, as the click of the locks +struck softly through the silence. + +"Jackson; 'way up in Breathitt, at the eend of the new road." + +"No wonder y'u've been gone so long." + +"I had to wait thar fer the guns, 'n' I had to travel atter dark comm' +back, 'n' lay out'n the bresh by day. Hit's full eighty mile up thar." + +"Air ye shore nobody seed ye?" + +The question was from a Marcum, who had come in late, and +several laughed. Rufe threw back his dusty coat, which was ripped +through the lapel by a bullet. + +They seed me well 'nough fer that," he said, grimly, and then he +looked toward Rome, who thought of old Jasper, and gave back a +gleam of fierce sympathy. There were several nods of approval +along with the laugh that followed. It was a surprise-so little +consideration of an escape so narrow-from Rufe; for, as old Gabe +said, Rufe was big and good-natured, and was not thought fit for +leadership. But there was a change in him when he came back +from the West. He was quieter; he laughed less No one spoke of +the difference; it was too vague; but every one felt it, and it had an +effect. His flight had made many uneasy, but his return, for that +reason, brought a stancher fealty from these; and this was evident +now. All eyes were upon him, and all tongues, even old Sam's, +waited now for his to speak. + +"Whut we've got to do, we've got to do mighty quick," he began, at +last. " Things air changin'. I seed it over thar in Breathitt. The +soldiers 'n' that scar-faced Jellico preacher hev broke up the fightin' +over thar, 'n' ef we don't watch out, they'll be a-doin' it hyeh, when +we start our leetle frolic. We hain't got no time to fool. Old Jas +knows this as well as me, 'n' thar's goin' to be mighty leetle chance +fer 'em to layway 'n' pick us off from the bresh. Thar's goin' to be +fa'r fightin' fer once, thank the Lord. They bushwhacked us dunn' +the war, 'n' they've laywayed us 'n' shot us to pieces ever sence; but +now, ef God A'mighty's willin', the thing's a-goin' to be settled one +way or t'other at last, I reckon." + +He stopped a moment to think. The men's breathing could be +heard, so quiet was the room, and Rufe went on telling in detail, +slowly, as if to himself, the wrongs the Lewallens had done his +people. When he came to old Jasper his voice was low, and his +manner was quieter than ever. + +"Now old Jas have got to the p'int whar he says as how nobody in +this county kin undersell him 'n' stay hyeh. Old Jas druv Bond +Vickers out'n the mount 'ins fer tryin' hit. He druv Jess Hale away; +'n' them two air our kin." + +The big mountaineer turned then, and knocked the ashes from his +pipe. His eyes grew a little brighter, and his nostrils spread, but +with a sweep of his arm he added, still quietly: + +"Y' all know whut he's done." + +The gesture lighted memories of personal wrongs in every breast; +he had tossed a fire-brand among fagots, and an angry light began +to burn from the eyes that watched him. + +"Ye know, too, that he thinks he has played the same game with +me; but ye don't know, I reckon, that he had ole Jim Stover 'n' that +mis'-able Eli Crump a-hidin' in the bushes to shoot me "-again he +grasped the torn lapel; "that a body warned me to git away from +Hazlan; n' the night I left home they come thar to kill me, 'n' +s'arched the house, 'n' skeered Mollie n' the leetle gal 'most to +death." + +The mountaineer's self-control was lost suddenly in a furious oath. +The men did know, but in fresh anger they leaned forward in their +chairs, and twisted about with smothered curses. The old woman +had stopped smoking, and was rocking her body to and fro. Her +lips were drawn in upon her toothless gums, and her pipe was +clinched against her sunken breast. The head of the old +mountaineer was lifted, and his eyes were open and shining +fiercely. + +"I hear as how he says I'm gone fer good. Well, I have been kinder +easy-goin', hatin' to fight, but sence the day I seed Rome's dad thar +dead in his blood, I hev had jes one thing I wanted to do. Thar +wasn't no use stayin' hyeh; I seed that. Rome thar was too leetle, +and they was too many fer me. I knowed it was easier to git a new +start out West, 'n' when I come back to the mount'in, hit was to do +jes-whut I'm - going - to - do - now." He wheeled suddenly upon +Rome, with one huge hand lifted. Under it the old woman's voice +rose in a sudden wail: + +Yes; 'n' I want to see it done befoh I die. I hain't hyeh fer long, but I +hain't goin' to leave as long as ole Jas is hyeh, 'n' I want ye all to +know it. Ole Jas hev got to go fust. You hear me, Rome? I'm +a-talkin' to you; I'm a-talkin' to you. Hit's yo' time now! + +The frenzied chant raised Rome from his chair. Rufe himself took +up the spirit of it, and his voice was above all caution. + +"Yes, Rome! They killed him, boy. They sneaked on him, 'n' shot +him to pieces from the bushes. Yes; hit's yo' time now! Look +hyeh, boys! " He reached above the fireplace and took down an +old rifle-his brother's-which the old mother had suffered no one to +touch. He held it before the fire, pointing to two crosses made near +the flash-pan. " Thar's one fer ole Jim Lewallen! Thar's one fer +ole Jas! He got Jim, but ole Jas has got him, 'n' thar's his cross thar +yit! Whar's yo' gun, Rome? Shame on ye, boy!" + +The wild-eyed old woman was before him. She had divined Rufe's +purpose, and was already at his side, with Rome's Winchester in +one hand and a clasp-knife in the other. Every man was on his +feet; the door was open, and the boy Isom was at the threshold, his +eyes blazing from his whitc face. Rome had strode forward. + +Yes, boy; now's the time, right hyeh before us all! + +The mother had the knife outstretched. Rome took it, and the +scratch of the point on the hard steel went twice through the +stillness-one more fer the young un"; the voice was the old +mother's-then twice again. + +The moon was sinking when Rome stood in the door alone. The +tramp of horses was growing fainter down the mountain. The trees +were swaying in the wind below him, and he could just see the +gray cliffs on the other shore. The morning seemed far away; it +made him dizzy looking back to it through the tumult of the day. +Somewhere in the haze was the vision of a girl's white face-white +with distress for him. Her father and her brother he had sworn to +kill. He had made a cross for each, and each cross was an oath. +He closed the door; and then he gave way, and sat down with his +head in both hands. The noises in the kitchen ceased. The fire +died away, and the chill air gathered about him. When he rose, the +restless eyes of the boy were upon him from the shadows. + +X + +IT was court-day in Hazlan, but so early in the morning nothing +was astir in the town that hinted of its life on such a day. But for +the ring of a blacksmith's anvil on the quiet air, and the fact that +nowhere was a church-spire visible, a stranger would have thought +that the peace of Sabbath overlay a village of God-fearing people. +A burly figure lounged in the porch of a rickety house, and yawned +under a swinging sign, the rude letters of which promised" private +entertainment " for the traveller unlucky enough to pass that way. +In the one long, narrow main street, closely flanked by log and +framed houses, nothing else human was in sight. Out from this +street, and in an empty square, stood the one brick building in the +place, the court-house, brick without, brick within; unfinished, +unpencilled, unpainted; panes out of the windows, a shutter off +here and there, or swinging drunkenly on one hinge; the door wide +op en, as though there was no privacy within-a poor structure, with +the look of a good man gone shiftless and fast going wrong. + +Soon two or three lank brown figures appeared from each direction +on foot; then a horseman or two, and by and by mountaineers came +in groups, on horse and on foot. In time the side alleys and the +court-house square were filled with horses and mules, and even +steers. The mountaineers crowded the narrow street: idling from +side to side; squatting for a bargain on the wooden sidewalks; +grouping on the porch of the rickety hotel, and on the court-house +steps loitering in and out of the one store in sight. Out in the street +several stood about a horse, looking at his teeth, holding his eyes +to the sun, punching his ribs, twisting his tail; while the phlegmatic +owner sat astride the submissive beast, and spoke short answers to +rare questions. Everybody talked politics, the crop failure, or the +last fight at the seat of some private war; but nobody spoke of a +Lewallen or a Stetson unless he knew his listener's heart, and said +it in a whisper. For nobody knew when the powder would flash, or +who had taken sides, or that a careless word might not array him +with one or the other faction. + +A motley throng it was-in brown or gray homespun, with trousers +in cowhide boots, and slouched hats with brims curved according +to temperament, but with striking figures in it; the patriarch with +long, white hair, shorn even with the base of the neck, and bearded +only at the throat-a justice of the peace, and the sage of his district; +a little mountaineer with curling black hair and beard, and dark, +fine features; a grizzled giant with a head rugged enough to have +been carelessly chipped from stone; a bragging candidate claiming +everybody's notice; a square- shouldered fellow surging through +the crowd like a stranger; an open-faced, devil-may- care young +gallant on fire with moonshine; a skulking figure with brutish +mouth and shifting eyes. Indeed, every figure seemed distinct; for, +living apart from his neighbor, and troubling the law but little in +small matters of dispute, the mountaineer preserves independence, +and keeps the edges of his individuality unworn. Apparently there +was not a woman in town. Those that lived there kept housed, and +the fact was significant. Still, it was close to noon, and yet not a +Stetson or a Lewallen had been seen. The stores of Rufe and old +Jasper were at the extremities of the town, and the crowd did not +move those ways. It waited in the centre, and whetted impatience +by sly trips in twos and three to stables or side alleys for "mountain +dew." Now and then the sheriff, a little man with a mighty voice, +would appear on the courthouse steps, and summon a witness to +court, where a frightened judge gave instructions to a frightened +jury. But few went, unless called; for the interest was outside; +every man in the streets knew that a storm was nigh, and was +waiting to see it burst. + +Noon passed. A hoarse bell and a whining hound had announced +dinner in the hotel. The guests were coming again into the streets. +Eyes were brighter, faces a little more flushed, and the +"moonshine" was passed more openly. Both ways the crowd +watched closely. The quiet at each end of the street was ominous, +and the delay could last but little longer. The lookers-on +themselves were getting quarrelsome. The vent must come soon, +or among them there would be trouble. + +Thar comes Jas Lewallen! " At last. A dozen voices spoke at +once. A horseman had appeared far down the street from the +Lewallen end. The clouds broke from about the sun, and a dozen +men knew the horse that bore him; for the gray was prancing the +street sidewise, and throwing the sunlight from his flanks. Nobody +followed, and the crowd was puzzled. Young Jasper carried a +Winchester across his saddle-bow, and, swaying with the action of +his horse, came on. + +"What air he about?" + +"He's a plumb idgit." + +He mus' be crazy." + +He's drunk! + +The wonder ceased. Young Jasper was reeling. Two or three +Stetsons slipped from the crowd, and there was a galloping of +hoofs the other way. Another horseman appeared from the +Lewallen end, riding hastily. The new-comer's errand was to call +Jasper back. But the young dare-devil was close to the crowd, and +was swinging a bottle over his head. + +Come back hyeh, Jas! Come hyeh!" The new-comer was shouting +afar off while he galloped. Horses were being untethered from the +side alleys. Several more Lewallen riders came in sight. They +could see the gray shining in the sunlight amid the crowd, and the +man sent after him halted at a safe distance, gesticulating; and +they, too, spurred forward. + +Hello, boys! " young Jasper was calling out, as he swayed from +side to side, the people everywhere giving him way. + +"Fun to-day, by- ! fun to-day! Who'll hev a drink? Hyeh's hell to +the Stetsons, whar some of 'em '11 be afore night! + +With a swagger he lifted the bottle to his lips, and, stopping short, +let it fall untouched to the ground. He had straightened in his +saddle, and was looking up the street. With a deep curse he threw +the Winchester to his shoulder, fired, and before his yell had died +on his lips horse and rider were away like a shaft of light. The +crowd melted like magic from the street. The Stetsons, chiefly on +foot, did not return the fire, but halted up the street, as if parleying. +Young Jasper joined his party, and they, too, stood still a moment, +puzzled by the irresolution of the other side. + +"Watch out! they're gittin' round ye! Run for the court-house, ye +fools !-ye, run! " The voice came in a loud yell from somewhere +down the street, and its warning was just in time. + +A wreath of smoke came about a corner of the house far down the +street, and young Jasper yelled, and dashed up a side alley with his +followers. A moment later judge, jury, witnesses, and sheriff were +flying down the court-house steps at the point of Lewallen guns; +the Lewallen horses, led by the gray, were snorting through the +streets; their riders, barricaded in the forsaken court-house, were +puffing a stream of fire and smoke from every window of +court-room below and jury-room above. + +The streets were a bedlam. The Stetsons were yelling with +triumph. The Lewallens were divided, and Rufe placed three +Stetsons with Winchesters on each side of the courthouse, and kept +them firing. Rome, pale and stern, hid his force between the +square and the Lewallen store. He was none too quick. The rest +were coming on, led by old Jasper. It was reckless, riding that +way right into death; but the old man believed young Jasper's life +at stake, and the men behind asked no questions when old Jasper +led them. The horses' hoofs beat the dirt street like the crescendo +of thunder. The fierce old man's hat was gone, and his mane-like +hair was shaking in the wind. Louder-and still the Stetsons were +quiet-quiet too long. The wily old man saw the trap, and, with a +yell, whirled the column up an alley, each man flattening over his +saddle. From every window, from behind every corner and tree, +smoke belched from the mouth of a Winchester. Two horses went +down; one screamed; the other struggled to his feet, and limped +away with an empty saddle. One pf the fallen men sprang into +safety behind a house, and one lay still, with his arms stretched out +and his face in the dust. + +From behind barn, house, and fence the Lewallens gave back a +scattering fire; but the Stetsons crept closer, and were plainly in +greater numbers. Old Jasper was being surrounded, and he +mounted again, and all, followed by a chorus of bullets and +triumphant yells, fled for a wooded slope in the rear of the +court-house. A dozen Lewallens were prisoners, and must give up +or starve. There was savage joy in the Stetson crowd, and +many-footed rumor went all ways that night. + +Despite sickness and Rome's strict order, Isom had ridden down to +the mill. Standing in the doorway, he and old Gabe saw up the +river, where the water broke into foam over the ford, a riderless +gray horse plunging across. Later it neighed at a gate under Wolf's +Head, and Martha Lewallen ran out to meet it. Across under +Thunderstruck Knob that night the old Stetson mother listened to +Isom's story of the fight with ghastly joy in her death-marked face. + +XI + +ALL night the court-house was guarded and on guard. At one +corner of the square Rufe Stetson, with a few men, sat on watch in +old Sam Day's cabin-the fortress of the town, built for such a +purpose, and used for it many times before. The prisoners, too, +were alert, and no Stetson ventured into the open square, for the +moon was high; an exposure anywhere was noted instantly by the +whistle of a rifle-ball, and the mountaineer takes few risks except +under stress of drink or passion. Rome Stetson had placed pickets +about the town wherever surprise was possible. All night he +patrolled the streets to keep his men in such readiness as he could +for the attack that the Lewallens would surely make to rescue their +living friends and to avenge the dead ones. + +But the triumph was too great and unexpected. Two Braytons +were dead; several more were prisoners with young Jasper in the +courthouse; and drinking began. + +As the night deepened without attack the Stetsons drank more, and +grew reckless. A dance was started. Music and "moonshine" were +given to every man who bore a Winchester. The night was broken +with drunken yells, the random discharge of fire-arms, and the +mono-tone of heavy feet. The two leaders were helpless, and the +inaction of the Lewallens puzzled them. Chafed with anxiety, they +kept their eyes on the court-house or on the thicket of gloom where +their enemies lay. But the woods were as quiet as the pall of +shadows over them. Once Rome, making his rounds, saw a figure +crawling through a field of corn. It looked like Crump's, but +before he could fire the man rolled like a ball down the bushy bank +to the river. An instant later some object went swiftly past a side +street-somebody on horseback-and a picket fired an alarm. The +horse kept on, and Rome threw his rifle on a patch of moonlight, +but when the object flashed through, his finger was numbed at the +trigger. In the moonlight the horse looked gray, and the rider was +seated sidewise. A bullet from the court-house clipped his hat-brim +as he ran recklessly across the street to where Steve Marcum stood +in the dark behind old Sam's cabin. + +"Jim Hale 'll git him as he goes up the road," said Steve, +calmly-and then with hot impatience, "Why the hell don't he +shoot? + +Rome started forward in the moonlight, and Steve caught his arm. +Two bullets hissed from the court-house, and he fell back. + +A shot sounded from the bushes far away from the road. The horse +kept on, and splashed into Troubled Fork, and Steve swore bitterly. + +"Hit hain't Jim. Hit's that mis'able Bud Vickers; he's been a-stan +din' guard out'n the bushes 'stid o' the road. That was a spy, I tell +ye, 'n' the coward let him in and let him out. They'll know now +we're all drunk! Whut's the matter? + +Rome's mouth was half open. He looked white and sick, and Steve +thought he had been hit, but he took off his hat. " Purty close! " he +said, with a laugh, pointing at the bullet-hole through the brim. + +Steve, unsuspicious, went on: "Hit was a spy, I tell ye. Bud was +afeard to stan' in the road, 'n' I'm goin' out thar 'n' twist his damned +neck. We've got 'em, Rome! I tell ye, we've got 'em! Ef we kin git +through this night, and git the boys sober in the morning, we've got +'em shore!" + +The night did pass in safety, darkness wore away without attack, +and morning broke on the town in its drunken stupor. Then the +curious silence of the Lewallens was explained. The rumor came +that old Jasper was dead, and it went broadcast. Later, friends +coming to the edge of the town for the bodies of the dead +Lewallens confirmed it. A random ball had passed through old +Lewallen's body in the wild flight for the woods, and during the +night he had spent his last breath in a curse against the man who +fired it. + +Then each Stetson, waked from his drunken sleep, drank again +when he heard of the death. The day bade fair to be like the night, +and again the anxiety of the leaders was edged with fear. Old +Jasper dead and young Jasper a prisoner, the chance was near to +end the feud, or there would be no Lewallen left to lead their +enemies. But, again, they were wellnigh helpless. Already they +had barely enough men to guard their prisoners. Of the Marcums, +Steve alone was able to handle a Winchester, and outside the +sounds of the carousal were in the air and growing louder. In a +little while, if the Lewallens but knew it, escape would be easy and +the Stetsons could be driven from the town. + +Oh, they know it," said Steve. "They'll be a-whoopin' down out O' +them woods purty soon, 'n' we re goin to ketch hell. I'd like to +know mighty well who that spy was last night. That cussed Bud +Vickers says it was a ha'nt, on a white hoss, with long hair flyin' in +the wind, 'n' that he shot plumb through it. I jus' wish I'd a had a +chance at it." + +Still, noon came again without trouble, and the imprisoned +Lewallens had been twenty-four hours without food. Their +ammunition was getting scarce. The firing was less frequent, +though the watch was as close as ever, and twice a Winchester had +sounded a signal of distress. All knew that a response must come +soon; and come it did. A picket, watching the river road, saw +young Jasper's horse coming along the dark bushes far up the river, +and brought the news to the group standing behind old Sam's +cabin. The gray galloped into sight, and, skirting the woods, came +straight for the town-with a woman on his back. The stirrup of a +man's saddle dangled on one side, and the woman's bonnet had +fallen from her head. Some one challenged her. + +Stop, I tell ye! Don't ye go near that courthouse! Stop, I tell ye! I'll +shoot! Stop!" + +Rome ran from the cabin with a revolver in each hand. A drunken +mountaineer was raising a Winchester to his shoulder, and, +springing from the back of the gray at the court-house steps, was +Martha Lewallen. + +"I'll kill the fust man that lifts his finger to hurt the gal," Rome +said, knocking the drunken man's gun in the air. "We hain't fightin' +women!" + +It was too late to oppose her, and the crowd stood helplessly +watching. No one dared approach, so, shielding with her body the +space of the opening door, she threw the sack of food within. Then +she stood a moment talking and, turning, climbed to her saddle. +The gray was spotted with foam, and showed the red of his nostrils +with every breath as, with face flushed and eyes straight before +her, she rode slowly toward the crowd. What was she about? +Rome stood rigid, his forgotten pistols hanging at each side; the +mouth of the drunken mountaineer was open with stupid wonder; +the rest fell apart as she came around the corner of the cabin and, +through the space given, rode slowly, her skirt almost brushing +Rome, looking neither to the right nor to the left; and when she +had gone quite through them all, she wheeled and rode, still +slowly, through the open fields toward the woods which sheltered +the Lewallens, while the crowd stood in bewildered silence +looking after her. Yells of laughter came from the old court-house. +Some of the Stetsons laughed, too; some swore, a few grumbled; +but there was not one who was not stirred by the superb daring of +the girl, though she had used it only to show her contempt. + +" Rome, you're a fool; though, fer a fac', we can't shoot a woman; +'n' anyways I ruther shoot her than the hoss. But lemme tell ye, thar +was more'n sump'n to eat in that bag! They air up to some dodge." + +Rufe Stetson had watched the incident through a port-hole of the +cabin, and his tone was at once jesting and anxious. + +"That grub won't last more'n one day, I reckon," said the drunken +mountaineer. We'll watch out fer the gal nex' time. We're boun' to +git 'em one time or t'other." + +"She rid through us to find out how many of us wasn't dead drunk," +said Steve Marcum, still watching the girl as she rode on, toward +the woods; "'n' I'm a-thinkin' they'll be down on us purty soon now, +'n' I reckon we'll have to run fer it. Look thar boys!" + +The girl had stopped at the edge of the woods; facing the town, she +waved her bonnet high above her head. + +"Well, whut in the--! "he said, with slow emphasis, and then he +leaped from the door with a yell. The bonnet was a signal to the +beleaguered Lewallens. The rear door of the courthouse had been +quietly opened, and the prisoners were out in a body and +scrambling over the fence before the pickets could give an alarm. +The sudden yells, the crack of Winchesters, startled even the +revellers and all who could, headed by Rome and Steve Marcum, +sprang into the square, and started in pursuit. But the Lewallens +had got far ahead, and were running in zigzag lines to dodge the +balls flying after them. Half-way to the woods was a gully of red +clay, and into this the fleetest leaped, and turned instantly to cover +their comrades. The Winchesters began to rattle from the woods, +and the bullets came like rain from everywhere. + +"T-h-up! T-h-up! T-h-up! " there were three of them-the peculiar +soft, dull messages of hot lead to living flesh. A Stetson went +down; another stumbled; Rufe Stetson, climbing the fence, caught +at his breast with an oath, and fell back. Rome and Steve dropped +for safety to the ground. Every other Stetson turned in a panic, and +every Lewallen in the gully leaped from it, and ran under the +Lewallen fire for shelter in the woods. The escape was over. + +"That was a purty neat trick," said Steve, wiping a red streak from +his cheek. " Nex' time she tries that, she'll git herself into trouble." + +At nightfall the wounded leader and the dead one were carried up +the mountain, each to his home; and there was mourning far into +the night on one bank of the Cumberland, and, serious though Rufe +Stetson's wound was, exultation on the other. But in it Rome could +take but little part. There had been no fault to find with him in the +fight. But a reaction had set in when he saw the girl flash in the +moonlight past the sights of his Winchester, and her face that day +had again loosed within him a flood of feeling that drove the lust +for revenge from his veins. Even now, while he sat in his own +cabin, his 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 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 and gold of new leaves +and sunlight; and higher still waved the poplar blooms, with honey +ready on every crimson heart for the bees. Down in the valley +Rome Stetson could see about every little cabin pink clouds and +white clouds of peach and of apple blossoms. Amid the ferns about +him shade-loving trilliums showed their many-hued faces, and +every opening was thickly peopled with larkspur seeking the sun. +The giant magnolia and the umbrella-tree spread their great +creamy flowers; the laurel shook out myriads of pink and white +bells, and the queen of mountain flowers was stirring from sleep in +the buds of the rhododendron. + +With the spring new forces pulsed the mountain air. The spirit of +the times reached even Hazlan. A railroad was coming up the +river, so the rumor was. When winter broke, surveyors had +appeared; after them, mining experts and purchasers of land. New +ways of bread-making were open to all, and the feudsman began to +see that he could make food and clothes more easily and with less +danger than by sleeping with his rifle in the woods, and by fighting +men who had done him no harm. Many were tired of fighting; +many, forced into the feud, had fought unwillingly. Others had +sold their farms and wild lands, and were moving toward the Blue +Grass or westward. The desperadoes of each faction had fled the +law or were in its clutches. The last Lewallen was dead; the last +Stetson was hidden away in the mountains. There were left +Mareums and Braytons, but only those who felt safest from +indictment; in these a spirit of hostility would live for years, and, +roused by passion or by drink, would do murder now on one side +of the Cumberland and now on the other; but the Stetson-Lewallen +feud, old Gabe believed, was at an end at last. + +All these things the miller told Rome Stetson, who well knew what +they meant. He was safe enough from the law while the people +took no part in his capture, but he grew apprehensive when he +learned of the changes going on in the valley. None but old Gabe +knew where he was, to be sure, but with his own enemies to guide +the soldiers he could not hope to remain hidden long. Still, with +that love of the mountains characteristic of all races born among +them, he clung to his own land. He would rather stay where he +was the space of a year and die, he told old Gabe passionately, +than live to old age in another State. + +But there was another motive, and he did not hide it. On the other +side he had one enemy left-the last, too, of her race-who was more +to him than his own dead kindred, who hated him, who placed at +his door all her sorrows. For her he was living like a wolf in a +cave, and old Gabe knew it. Her-he would not leave. + +"I tell ye, Rome, you've got to go. Thar's no use talkin'. Court +comes the fust Monday in June. The soldiers ull be hyeh. Hit won't +be safe. Thar's some that s'picions I know whar ye air now, 'n' +they'll be spyin', 'n' mebbe hit'll git me into trouble, too, aidin' 'n' +abettin' a man to git away who air boun' to the law." + +The two were sitting on the earthen floor of the cave before a little +fire, and Rome, with his hands about his knees and his brows +knitted, was staring into the yellow blaze. His unshorn hair fell to +his shoulders; his face was pale from insufficient food and +exercise, and tense with a look that was at once caged and defiant. + +"Uncle Gabe," he asked, quietly, for the old man's tone was a little +querulous, " air ye sorry ye holped me? Do ye blame me fer whut +I've done?" + +"No," said the old miller, answering both questions; "I don't. I +believe whut ye tol' me. Though, even ef ye had 'a' done it, I don't +know as I'd blame ye, seem' that it was a fa'r fight. I don't doubt he +was doin' his best to kill you." + +Rome turned quickly, his face puzzled and darkening. + +Uncle Gabe, whut air you drivin' at? " The old man spat into the +fire, and shifted his position uneasily, as Rome's hand caught his +knee. + +Well, ef I have to tell ye, I s'pose I must. Thar's been nothin' +pertickler ag'in ye so fer, 'cept fer breakin' that confederatin' statute +'bout bandin' fightin' men together; 'n' nobody was very anxious to +git hol' o' ye jes fer that, but now "-the old man stopped a moment, +for Rome's eyes were kindling-" they say that ye killed Jas Lew +allen, 'n' that ye air a murderer; 'n' hit air powerful strange how all +of a suddint folks seem to be gittin' down on a man as kills his +fellow-creetur; 'n' now they means to hunt ye til they ketch ye." + +It was all out now, and the old man was relieved. Rome rose to his +feet, and in sheer agony of spirit paced the floor. + +"I tol' ye, Uncle Gabe, that I didn't kill him." + +So ye did, 'n' I believe ye. But a feller seed you 'n' Steve comm' +from the place whar Jas was found dead, 'n' whar the dirt 'n' rock +was throwed about as by two bucks in spring-time. Steve says he +didn't do it, 'n' he wouldn't say you didn't. Looks to me like Steve +did the kuhn', 'n' was lyin' a leetle. He hain't goin' to confess hit to +save your neck; 'n' he can't no way, fer he hev lit out o' these +mount'ins-long ago." + +If Steve was out of danger, suspicion could not harm him, and +Rome said nothing. + +"Isom's got the lingerin' fever ag'in, 'n' he's out"i his head. He's +ravin' 'bout that fight. Looks like ye tol' him 'bout it. He says,' Don't +tell Uncle Gabe'; 'n' he keeps sayin' it. Hit'll 'most kill him ef you +go 'way; but he wants ye to git out o' the mount'ins; 'n', Rome, +you've got to go." + +"Who was it, Uncle Gabe, that seed me 'n' Steve comm' 'way from +thar? + +He air the same feller who hev been spyin' ye all the time this war's +been goin' on; hit's that dried-faced, snaky Eli Crump, who ye +knocked down 'n' choked up in Hazlan one day fer sayin' +something ag'in Isom." + +"I knowed it-I knowed it-oh, ef I could git my fingers roun' his +throat once more-jes once more-I'd be 'mos' ready to die." + +He stretched out his hands as he strode back and forth, with his +fingers crooked like talons; his shadow leaped from wall to wall, +and his voice, filling the cave, was, for the moment, scarcely +human. The old man waited till the paroxysm was over and Rome +had again sunk before the fire. + +"Hit 'u'd do no good, Rome," he said, rising to go. "You've got +enough on ye now, without the sin o' takin' his life. You better +make up yer mind to leave the mount ins now right 'way. You're +a-gittin' no more'n half-human, livin' up hyeh like a catamount. I +don't see how ye kin stand it. Thar's no hope o' things blowin' over, +boy, 'n' givin' ye a chance o' comm' out ag'in, as yer dad and yer +grandad usen to do afore ye. The citizens air gittin' tired o' these +wars. They keeps out the furriners who makes roads 'n' buys lands; +they air ag'in' the law, ag'in' religion, ag'in' yo' pocket, 'n' ag'in' +mine. Lots o' folks hev been ag'in' all this fightin' fer a long time, +but they was too skeery to say so. They air talkin' mighty big now, +seem' they kin git soldiers hyeh to pertect 'em. So ye mought as +well give up the idea o' staying hyeh, 'less'n ye want to give +yourself up to the law." + +The two stepped from the cave, and passed through the +rhododendrons till they stood on the cliff overlooking the valley. +The rich light lay like a golden mist between the mountains, and +through it, far down, the river moaned like the wind of a coming +storm. + +Did ye tell the gal whut I tol' ye?" + +"Yes, Rome; hit wasn't no use. She says Steve's word's as good as +yourn; 'n' she knowed about the crosses. Folks say she swore awful +ag'in' ye at young Jas's burial, 'lowin' that she'd hunt ye down +herse'f, ef the soldiers didn't ketch ye. I hain't seed her sence she +got sick; 'pears like ever'body's sick. Mebbe she's a leetle settled +down now-no tellin'. No use foolin' with her, Rome. You git away +from hyeh. Don't you worry 'bout Isom-I'll take keer o' him, 'n' +when he gits well, he'll want to come atter ye, 'n' I'll let him go. He +couldn't live hyeh without you. But y'u must git away, Rome, 'n' +git away mighty quick." + +With hands clasped behind him, Rome stood and watched the bent +figure slowly pick its way around the stony cliff. + +"I reckon I've got to go. She's ag'in' me; they're all ag'in' me. I +reckon I've jes got to go. Somehow, I've been kinder hopin'-" He +closed his lips to check the groan that rose to them, and turned +again into the gloom behind him. + +XIV + +JUNE came. The wild rose swayed above its image along every +little shadowed stream, and the scent of wild grapes was sweet in +the air and as vagrant as a bluebird's note in autumn. The +rhododendrons burst into beauty, making gray ridge and gray cliff +blossom with purple, hedging streams with snowy clusters and +shining leaves, and lighting up dark coverts in the woods as with +white stars. The leaves were full, woodthrushes sang, and bees +droned like unseen running water in the woods. + +With June came circuit court once more-and the soldiers. Faint +music pierced the dreamy chant of the river one morning as Rome +lay on a bowlder in the summer sun; and he watched the guns +flashing like another stream along the water, and then looked again +to the Lewallen cabin. Never, morning, noon, or night, when he +came from the rhododendrons, or when they closed about him, did +he fail to turn his eyes that way. Often he would see a bright speck +moving about the dim lines of the cabin, and he would scarcely +breathe while he watched it, so easily would it disappear. Always +he had thought it was Martha, and now he knew it was, for the old +miller had told him more of the girl, and had wrung his heart with +pity. She had been ill a long while. The "furriners " had seized old +Jasper's cahin and land. The girl was homeless, and she did not +know it, for no one had the heart to tell her. She was living with +the Braytons; and every day she went to the cabin, "moonin'' n' +sorrowin' aroun'," as old Gabe said; and she was much changed. + +Once more the miller came-for the last time, he said, firmly. +Crump had trailed him, and had learned where Rome was. The +search would begin next day-perhaps that very night-and Crump +would guide the soldiers. Now he must go, and go quickly. The +boy, too, sent word that unless Rome went, he would have +something to tell. Old Gabe saw no significance in the message; +but he had promised to deliver it, and he did. Rome wavered then; +Steve and himself gone, no suspicion would fall on the lad. If he +were caught, the boy might confess. With silence Rome gave +assent, and the two parted in an apathy that was like heartlessness. +Only old Gabe's shrunken breast heaved with something more than +weariness of descent, and Rome stood watching him a long time +before he turned back to the cave that had sheltered him from his +enemies among beasts and men. In a moment he came out for the +last time, and turned the opposite way. Climbing about the spur, he +made for the path that led down to the river. When he reached it he +glanced at the sun, and stopped in indecision. Straight above him +was a knoll, massed with rhododendrons, the flashing leaves of +which made it like a great sea-wave in the slanting sun, while the +blooms broke slowly down over it like foam. Above this was a +gray sepulchre of dead, standing trees, more gaunt and spectre-like +than ever, with the rich life of summer about it. Higher still were a +dark belt of stunted firs and the sandstone ledge, and above +these-home. He was risking his liberty, his life. Any clump of +bushes might bristle suddenly with Winchesters. If the soldiers +sought for him at the cave they would at the same time guard the +mountain paths; they would guard, too, the Stetson cabin. But no +matter-the sun was still high, and he turned up the steep. The ledge +passed, he stopped with a curse at his lips and the pain of a +knife-thrust at his heart. A heap of blackened stones and ashes +was before him. The wild mountain-grass was growing up about it. +The bee-gums were overturned and rifled. The garden was a +tangled mass of weeds. The graves in the little family +burying-ground were unprotected, the fence was gone, and no +boards marked the last two ragged mounds. Old Gabe had never +told him. He, too, like Martha, was homeless, and the old miller +had been kind to him, as the girl's kinspeople had been to her. + +For a long while he sat on the remnant of the burned and broken +fence, and once more the old tide of bitterness rose within him and +ebbed away. There were none left to hate, to wreak vengeance on. +It was hard to leave the ruins as they were; and yet he would rather +leave weeds and ashes than, like Martha, have some day to know +that his home was in the hands of a stranger. When he thought of +the girl he grew calmer; his own sorrows gave way to the thought +of hers; and half from habit he raised his face to look across the +river. Two eagles swept from a dark ravine under the shelf of rock +where he had fought young Jasper, and made for a sun-lighted +peak on the other shore. From them his gaze fell to Wolf's Head +and to the cabin beneath, and a name passed his lips in a whisper. + +Then he took the path to the river, and he found the canoe where +old Gabe had hidden it. Before the young moon rose he pushed +into the stream and drifted with the current. At the mouth of the +creek that ran over old Gabe's water-wheel he turned the prow to +the Lewallen shore. + +Not yit! Not yit! " he said. + +XV + +THAT night Rome passed in the woods, with his rifle, in a bed of +leaves. Before +daybreak he had built a fire in a deep ravine to cook his breakfast, +and had scattered the embers that the smoke should give no sign. +The sun was high when he crept cautiously in sight of the +Lewallen cabin. It was much like his own home on the other shore, +except that the house, closed and desolate, was standing, and the +bees were busy. At the corner of the kitchen a rusty axe was +sticking in a half-cut piece of timber, and on the porch was a heap +of kindling and fire wood-the last work old Jasper and his son had +ever done. In the Lewallens' garden, also, two graves were fresh; +and the spirit of neglect and ruin overhung the place. + +All the morning he waited in the edge of the laurel, peering down +the path, watching the clouds race with their shadows over the +mountains, or pacing to and fro in his covert of leaves and flowers. +He began to fear at last that she was not coming, that she was ill, +and once he started down the mountain toward Steve Brayton's +cabin. The swift descent brought him to his senses, and he +stopped half-way, and climbed back again to his hiding-place. +What he was doing, what he meant to do, he hardly knew. Mid-day +passed; the sun fell toward the mountains, and once more came the +fierce impulse to see her, even though he must stalk into the +Brayton cabin. Again, half-crazed, he started impetuously +through the brush, and shrank back, and stood quiet. A little noise +down the path had reached his ear. In a moment he could hear +slow foot-falls, and the figure of the girl parted the pink-and-white +laurel blossoms, which fell in a shower about her when she +brushed through them. She passed quite near him, walking slowly, +and stopped for a moment to rest against a pillar of the porch. She +was very pale; her face was traced deep with suffering, and she +was, as old Gabe said, much changed. Then she went on toward +the garden, stepping with an effort over the low fence, and leaned +as if weak and tired against the apple-tree, the boughs of which +shaded the two graves at her feet. For a few moments she stood +there, listless, and Rome watched her with hungry eyes, at a loss +what to do. She moved presently, and walked quite around the +graves without looking at them; then came back past him, and, +seating herself in the porch, turned her face to the river. The sun +lighted her hair, and in the sunken, upturned eyes Rome saw the +shimmer of tears. + +"Marthy! " He couldn't help it-the thick, low cry broke like a groan +from his lips, and the girl was on her feet, facing him. She did not +know the voice, nor the shaggy, half-wild figure in the shade of the +laurel; and she started back as if to run; but seeing that the man did +not mean to harm her, she stopped, looking for a moment with +wonder and even with quick pity at the hunted face with its white +appeal. Then a sudden spasm caught her throat, and left her body +rigid, her hands shut, and her eyes dry and hard-she knew him. A +slow pallor drove the flush of surprise from her face, and her lips +moved once, but there was not even a whisper from them. Rome +raised one hand before his face, as though to ward off something. " +Don't look at mc that way, Marthy-my God, don't! I didn't kill him. +I sw'ar it! I give him a chance fer his life. I know, I know-Steve +says he didn't. Thar was only us two. Hit looks ag'in' me; but I +hain't killed one nur t'other. I let 'em both go. Y'u don't believe me? +" He went swiftly toward her, his gun outstretched. Hyeh, gal! I +heerd ye swore ag' in' me out thar in the gyarden-'lowin' that you +was goin' to hunt me down yerself if the soldiers didn't. Hyeh's yer +chance! + +The girl shrank away from him, too startled to take the weapon; +and he leaned it against her, and stood away, with his hands behind +him. + +Kill me ef ye think I'm a-lyin' to ye," he said. "Y'u kin git even with +me now. But I want to tell ye fust "-the girl had caught the muzzle +of the gun convulsively, and was bending over it, her eyes burning, +her face inscrutable-hit was a fa'r fight betwixt us, 'n' I whooped +him. He got his gun then, 'n' would 'a' killed me ag'in' his oath ef he +hadn't been shot fust Hit's so, too, 'bout the crosses. I made 'em; +they're right thar on that gun; but whut could I do with mam +a-standin' right thar with the gun 'n' Uncle Rufe a-tellin' 'bout my +own dad layin' in his blood, 'n' Isom 'n' the boys lookin' on! But I +went ag'in' my oath; I gave him his life when I had the right to take +it. I could 'a' killed yer dad once, 'n' I had the right to kill him, too, +fer killin' mine; but I let him go, 'n' I reckon I done that fer ye, too. +'Pears like I hain't done nothin' sence I seed ye over thar in the mill +that day that wasn't done fer ye. Somehow ye put me dead ag'in' +my own kin, 'n' tuk away all my hate ag'in' yourn. I couldn't fight +fer thinkin' I was fightin' you, 'n' when I seed ye comm' through the +bushes jes now, so white 'n' sickly-like, I couldn't hardly git breath, +a-thinkin' I was the cause of all yer misery. That's all!" He +stretched out his arms. Shoot, gal, ef ye don't believe me. I'd jes as +lieve die, ef ye thinks I'm lyin' to ye, 'n' ef ye hates me fer whut I +hain't done." + +The gun had fallen to the earth. The girl, trembling at the knees, +sank to her seat on the porch, and, folding her arms against the +pillar, pressed her forehead against them, her face unseen. Rome +stooped to pick up the weapon. + +"I'm goin' 'way now," he went on, slowly, after a little pause, "but I +couldn't leave hyeh without seem' you. I wanted ye to know the +truth, 'n' I 'lowed y'u'd believe me ef I tol' ye myself. I've been +a-waitin' thar in the lorrel fer ye sence mornin'. Uncle Gabe tol' me +ye come hyeh ever' day. He says I've got to go. I've been hopin' I +mought come out o' the bushes some day. But Uncle Gabe says +ever'body's ag'in' me more' n ever, 'n' that the soldiers mean to +ketch me. The gov'ner out thar in the settlements says as how he'll +give five hundred dollars fer me, livin' or dead. He'll nuver git me +livin'-I've swore that-'n' as I hev done nothin' sech as folks on both +sides hev done who air walkin' roun' free, I hain't goin' to give up. +Hit's purty hard to leave these mount'ins. Reckon I'll nuver see 'em +ag'in. Been livin' like a catamount over thar on the knob. I could +jes see you over hyeh, 'n' I reckon I hain't done much 'cept lay over +thar on a rock 'n' watch ye movin' round. Hit's mighty good to feel +that ye believe me, 'n' I want ye to know that I been stayin' over +thar fer nothin' on earth but jes to see you ag'in; 'n' I want ye to +know that I was a-sorrowin' fer ye when y'u was sick, 'n' a-pinin' to +see ye, 'n' a-hopin' some day y'u mought kinder git over yer hate fer +me." He had been talking with low tenderness, half to himself, and +with his face to the river, and he did not see the girl's tears falling +to the porch. Her sorrow gave way in a great sob now, and he +turned with sharp remorse, and stood quite near her. + +"Don't cry, Marthy," he said. "God knows hit's hard to think I've +brought all this on ye when I'd give all these mount 'ins to save ye +from it. Whut d' ye say? Don't cry." + +The girl was trying to speak at last, and Rome bent over to catch +the words. + +"I hain't cryin' fer myself," she said, faintly, and then she said no +more; but the first smile that had passed over Rome's face for +many a day passed then, and he put out one big hand, and let it rest +on the heap of lustrous hair. + +"Marthy, I hate to go 'way, leavin' ye hyeh with nobody to take +keer o' ye. You're all alone hyeh in the mount'ins; I'm all alone; 'n' I +reckon I'll be all alone wharever I go, ef you stay hyeh. I got a boat +down thar on the river, 'n' I'm goin' out West whar Uncle Rufe use +to live. I know I hain't good fer nothin' much "-he spoke almost +huskily; he could scarcely get the words to his lips-" but I want ye +to go with me. Won't ye?" + +The girl did not answer, but her sobbing ceased slowly, while +Rome stroked her hair; and at last she lifted her face, and for a +moment looked to the other shore. Then she rose. There is a +strange pride in the Kentucky mountaineer. + +"As you say, Rome, thar's nobody left but you, 'n' nobody but me; +but they burned you out, we hain't even-yit." Her eyes were on +Thunderstruck Knob, where the last sunlight used to touch the +Stetson cabin. + +"Hyeh, Rome!" He knew what she meant, and he kneeled at the +pile of kindling-wood near the kitchen door. Then they stood back +and waited. The sun dipped below a gap in the mountains, the sky +darkened, and the flames rose to the shingled porch, and leaped +into the gathering dusk. On the outer edge of the quivering light, +where it touched the blossomed laurel, the two stood till the blaze +caught the eaves of the cabin; and then they turned their faces +where, burning to ashes in the west, was another fire, whose light +blended in the eyes of each with a light older and more lasting than +its own-the light eternal. + +THE END + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of A Cumberland Vendetta, by John Fox Jr. + diff --git a/old/cnven10.zip b/old/cnven10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5b053a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/cnven10.zip |