登陆注册
5271000000002

第2章 I(2)

Seed the new preacher comm' 'long today?" he asked. Drawing one dirty finger across his forehead, " Got a long scar 'cross hyeh."The miller shook his head.

Well, he's a-comm'. I've been waitin' fer him up the road, but Ireckon I got to git 'cross the river purty soon now."Crump had been living over in Breathitt since the old feud. He had been "convicted" over there by Sherd Raines, a preacher from the Jellico Hills, and he had grown pious. Indeed, he had been trailing after Raines from place to place, and he was following the circuit-rider now to the scene of his own deviltry-Hazlan.

"Reckon you folks don't know I got the cirkit-rider to come over hyeh, do ye?" he went on. "Ef he can't preach! Well, I'd tell a man! He kin jus' draw the heart out'n a holler log! He ' convicted ' me fust night, over thar in Breathitt. He come up thar, ye know, to stop the feud, he said; 'n' thar was laughin' from one eendo' Breathitt to t'other; but thar was the whoppinest crowd thar I ever see when he did come. The meetin'-house wasn't big enough to hold 'em, so he goes out on the aidge o' town, n' climbs on to a stump. He hed a woman with him from the settlemints-she's a-waitin' at Hazlan fer him now-'n' she had a cur'us little box, 'n' he put her 'n' the box on a big rock, 'n' started in a callin' 'em his bretherin' 'n' sisteren, 'n' folks seed mighty soon thet he meant it, too. He's always mighty easylike, tell he gits to the blood-penalty."At the word, Crump's listeners paid sudden heed. Old Gabe's knife stopped short in the heart of the stick he was whittling; the boy looked sharply up from the running meal into Crump's face and sat still.

Well, he jes prayed to the Almighty as though he was a-talkin' to him face to face, 'n' then the woman put her hands on that box, 'n' the sweetes' sound anybody thar ever heerd come outen it. Then she got to singin'. Hit wusn't nuthin' anybody thar'd ever heerd; but some o' the women folks was a snifflin' 'fore she got through. He pitched right into the feud, as he calls hit, 'n' the sin o' sheddin' human blood, I tell ye; 'n' 'twixt him and the soldiers I reckon thar won't be no more fightin' in Breathitt. He says, 'n' he always says it mighty loud "-Crump raised his own voice-" thet the man as kills his feller-critter hev some day got ter give up his own blood, sartin 'n' shore."It was old Gabe's pet theory, and he was nodding approval. The boy's parted lips shook with a spasm of fear, and were as quickly shut tight with suspicion. Steve raised his head as though he too had heard the voice, and looked stupidly about him.

I tol' him," Crump went on, " thet things was already a-gettin' kind o' frolicsome round hyeh agin; thet the Marcums 'n' Braytons was a-takin' up the ole war, 'n' would be a-plunkin' one 'nother every time they got together, 'n' a-gittin' the whole country in fear 'n' tremblin' -now thet Steve Marcum had come back."Steve began to scowl and a vixenish smile hovered at Isom's lips.

He knows mighty well-fer I tol' him-thet thar hain't a wuss man in all these mountains than thet very Steve-" The name ended in a gasp, and the wizened gossip was caught by the throat and tossed, chair and all, into a corner of the mill.

None o' that, Steve! " called the miller, sternly. "Not hyeh. Don't hurt him now!

Crump's face stiffened with such terror that Steve broke into a laugh.

Well, ye air a skeery critter! " he said, contemptuously. "I hain't goin' to hurt him, Uncl' Gabe, but he must be a plumb idgit, a-talkin' 'bout folks to thar face, 'n' him so puny an' spindlin'! You git!

Crump picked himself up trembling-"Don't ye ever let me see ye on this side o' the river agin, now "-and shuffled out, giving Marcum one look of fear and unearthly hate.

Convicted '! " snorted Steve. " I heerd old Steve Brayton had hired him to waylay me, 'n' I swar I believe hit's so.""Well, he won't hev to give him more'n a chaw o' tobaccer now,"said Gabe. " He'll come purty near doin' hit hisseif, I reckon, ef he gits the chance."Well, he kin git the chance ef I gits my leetle account settled with ole Steve Brayton fust. 'Pears like that old hog ain't satisfied shootin' me hisself." Stretching his arms with a yawn, Steve winked at Isom and moved to the door. The boy followed him outside.

"We're goin' fer ole Brayton about the dark o' the next moon, boy,"he said. "He's sort o' s'picious now, 'n' we'll give him a leetle time to git tame. I'll have a bran'-new Winchester fer ye, Isom. Hit ull be like ole times agin, when Rome was hyeh. Whut's the matter, boy?" he asked, suddenly. Isom looked unresponsive, listless.

Air ye gittin' sick agin?

Well, I hain't feelin' much peert, Steve."

Take keer o' yourself, boy. Don't git sick now. We'll have to watch Eli Crump purty close. I don't know why I hain't killed thet spyin' skunk long ago, 'ceptin' I never had a shore an' sartin reason fer doin 'it.

Isom started to speak then and stopped. He would learn more first;and he let Steve go on home unwarned.

The two kept silence after Marcum had gone. Isom turned away from old Gabe, and stretched himself out on the platform. He looked troubled. The miller, too, was worried.

Jus' a hole in the groun'," he said, half to himself; "that's whut we're all comm' to! 'Pears like we mought help one 'nother to keep out'n hit, 'stid o' holpin' 'em in."Brown shadows were interlacing out in the mill-pond, where old Gabe's eyes were intent. A current of cool air had started down the creek to the river. A katydid began to chant. Twilight was coming, and the miller rose.

同类推荐
  • 金疮秘传禁方

    金疮秘传禁方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 松亭行纪

    松亭行纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 存复斋文集

    存复斋文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中复堂选集

    中复堂选集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 魏郑公谏录

    魏郑公谏录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 明鹿鼎记

    明鹿鼎记

    天启四年,木匠皇帝只剩下三年寿命,崇祯眼下还只是信王。天启四年,他还在山海卫种田打猎,为他的科举路攒着路费。天启四年,他遥望顺天府,仿佛看到了那里的灯红酒醉,夜夜笙歌。我这一生,不信命运,不畏生死,只求轰轰烈烈,快意逍遥。
  • 名门绯闻:冷少的枕边妻

    名门绯闻:冷少的枕边妻

    他步步为营,只为请君入瓮,他对她的残忍,不只为当年那陨落的一段往事。她在这场攻守战中沉沦,想要离开,却不曾想自己竟……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 远离心理误区(人生高起点)

    远离心理误区(人生高起点)

    《远离心理误区》是一本讲解心理健康的通俗读物,适合普通大众以及心理学爱好者阅读,通过阅读《远离心理误区》可以消除常见的心理误区,如克服自卑、力戒依赖、战胜懦弱、战胜沮丧、化解焦虑、抛弃嫉妒、远离猜疑、战胜自负等。相信本书将使读者对心理学的了解更深入一些,更科学一些!
  • 你不知道的事

    你不知道的事

    对于夏珞岚而言,人生是一个进退两难的迷局,她的头顶始终悬挂着一柄不知何时坠落的达摩克利斯之剑。原以为离开故乡去往千里之外可以摆脱这致命的威胁。却不料它如影随形,而她在异乡,会遇到顾锌白,新生辩论赛上他风度翩翩,他家世良好左右逢源。他的光辉使本欲隐藏起自己的夏珞岚藏的更深躲得更远,爱意在晦暗角落里异变成自我催眠的厌恶。她原本以为此生与他最好的结局就是不相识不相知,却不料最后却跌落进相爱的深渊里去。
  • 妖倾天下:娃控媳妇不好哄

    妖倾天下:娃控媳妇不好哄

    天有天道,得上天恩宠者为帝神,帝神者集万千天道与一身,千万年难出一人。她生来厄命,为天道所不容,奈何命硬在天道压迫下活出一番风采。
  • 世界尽头有我爱你

    世界尽头有我爱你

    许一场遇见,眉目成书。一支笔的掉落,一句大胆的问候,一次同桌。一个内向害羞的女孩,一个阳光开朗的男孩。他是她的白马王子,对他暗恋已久,却因为自己内心深处的自卑,不敢告白。他是她的白雪公主,对她情深已久,却因为害怕她早已心有所属,不敢告白。一次踏青,一次真心话大冒险,一场蓄谋已久的告白,让两人勇敢地迈出了第一步。
  • 弦歌一曲赠欢颜

    弦歌一曲赠欢颜

    流氓不可怕,有文化的流氓不可怕;面瘫很可怕,不要脸的面瘫更可怕!本文讲述的是一个面瘫少年死皮赖脸追求集万千宠爱于一身嚣张跋扈的小太妹的故事。“如果那个人是你,舍下脸面又何妨。”
  • 期约三年望星相待

    期约三年望星相待

    一位穷小子向一位千金小姐表白,因为各种原因,被程玉拒绝了。毕业后,她走了。萧然依然没放弃,五年后相见…………
  • 人性的优点(经典励志文丛)

    人性的优点(经典励志文丛)

    《人性的优点》汇集了卡耐基的思想精华和经典励志内容。是改变无数人命运的伟大著作。出版后立即获得了广大读者的欢迎,成为西方世界最持久的人文畅销书,至今已译成多种语种出版,在全球畅销不衰。无数读者通过阅读和实践书中介绍的各种方法,不仅走出了困境,最终还获得了成功,有的还成为世人仰慕的杰出人士。
  • 感动青少年的100个感恩母爱故事

    感动青少年的100个感恩母爱故事

    这套感恩书系正是我们需要的心灵“慧眼”,它像一架显微镜,于平凡的生活小故事中让我们发现爱的真谛;它是一块点金石,让我们在普通生活的点滴中发现爱的璀璨光芒;它是一台心灵的热感仪,无论多么细微或深沉的爱和善良,它都可以敏锐地帮助我们感触到。阅读了它,我们就可以从批评中品享到关切;阅读了它,我们就可以从轻轻的埋怨中体味到温暖和幸福;阅读了它,我们就可以在霜雪中眺望到春天的阳光;阅读了它,我们就可以在风雨中意想到彩虹的华美。