登陆注册
5383200000004

第4章 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS(2)

We crossed the Yadkin at a ford, and climbing the hills to the south of it we went down over stony traces, down and down, through rain and sun; stopping at rude cabins or taverns, until we came into the valley of another river.

This I know now was the Catawba.My memories of that ride are as misty as the spring weather in the mountains.

But presently the country began to open up into broad fields, some of these abandoned to pines.And at last, splashing through the stiff red clay that was up to the mare's fetlocks, we came to a place called Charlotte Town.What a day that was for me! And how I gaped at the houses there, finer than any I had ever dreamed of! That was my first sight of a town.And how I listened open-mouthed to the gentlemen at the tavern! One I recall had a fighting head with a lock awry, and a negro servant to wait on him, and was the principal spokesman.He, too, was talking of war.The Cherokees had risen on the western border.He was telling of the massacre of a settlement, in no mild language.

``Sirs,'' he cried, ``the British have stirred the redskins to this.Will you sit here while women and children are scalped, and those devils'' (he called them worse names)``Stuart and Cameron go unpunished?''

My father got up from the corner where he sat, and stood beside the man.

``I ken Alec Cameron,'' said he.

The man looked at him with amazement.

``Ay?'' said he, ``I shouldn't think you'd own it.Damn him,'' he cried, ``if we catch him we'll skin him alive.''

``I ken Cameron,'' my father repeated, ``and I'll gang with you to skin him alive.''

The man seized his hand and wrung it.

``But first I must be in Charlestown,'' said my father.

The next morning we sold our pelts.And though the mare was tired, we pushed southward, I behind the saddle.

I had much to think about, wondering what was to become of me while my father went to skin Cameron.I had not the least doubt that he would do it.The world is a story-book to a lad of nine, and the thought of Charlestown filled me with a delight unspeakable.Perchance he would leave me in Charlestown.

At nightfall we came into a settlement called the Waxhaws.And there being no tavern there, and the mare being very jaded and the roads heavy, we cast about for a place to sleep.The sunlight slanting over the pine forest glistened on the pools in the wet fields.And it so chanced that splashing across these, swinging a milk-pail over his head, shouting at the top of his voice, was a red-headed lad of my own age.My father hailed him, and he came running towards us, still shouting, and vaulted the rails.He stood before us, eying me with a most mischievous look in his blue eyes, and dabbling in the red mud with his toes.I remember I thought him a queer-looking boy.He was lanky, and he had a very long face under his tousled hair.

My father asked him where he could spend the night.

``Wal,'' said the boy, ``I reckon Uncle Crawford might take you in.And again he mightn't.''

He ran ahead, still swinging the pail.And we, following, came at length to a comfortable-looking farmhouse.

As we stopped at the doorway a stout, motherly woman filled it.She held her knitting in her hand.

``You Andy!'' she cried,'' have you fetched the milk?''

Andy tried to look repentant.

``I declare I'll tan you,'' said the lady.``Git out this instant.What rascality have you been in?''

``I fetched home visitors, Ma,'' said Andy.

``Visitors!'' cried the lady.``What 'll your Uncle Crawford say? And she looked at us smiling, but with no great hostility.

``Pardon me, Madam,'' said my father, ``if we seem to intrude.But my mare is tired, and we have nowhere to stay.''

Uncle Crawford did take us in.He was a man of substance in that country,--a north of Ireland man by birth, if I remember right.

同类推荐
  • 嘉运

    嘉运

    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。
  • 病逸漫记

    病逸漫记

    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。
  • 文同诗集

    文同诗集

    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。
  • 知稼翁词

    知稼翁词

    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。
  • 词品-郭麟

    词品-郭麟

    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
  • 重生农家女

    重生农家女

    以为死亡是最终的解脱,可没成想却让她回到了十五年前。 这一次,她该如何面对负心的丈夫,横刀夺爱的小三,愚昧势力的婆婆呢? 既然上天又给了她一次机会,那么,这一次,绝不要重蹈覆辙,这一次,请,拿了我的给我还回来,吃了我的给我吐出来! 如果上天说富贵是你我的劫难,那么我宁愿你不求闻达于诸侯,只与我躬耕与安贫....
  • 感人肺腑的回忆

    感人肺腑的回忆

    古往今来,一切闪光的人生,有价值的人生,都是在顽强拼搏和不懈进取中获得的。那些古代现代大智若愚的故事。
  • 最受感动的经典文学故事(最受学生感动的故事精粹)

    最受感动的经典文学故事(最受学生感动的故事精粹)

    本书中多个饱含快乐、阳光的小故事,融趣味、悬念和哲理于一体,用睿智的语言告诉每一个渴望成功的孩子,保持快乐的心态才能找到生活和学习中的快乐,帮助你走向人生的顶峰。
  • 职场故事

    职场故事

    无数事实、经验和理性已经证明:好故事可以影响人的一生。而以我们之见,所谓好故事,在内容上讲述的应是做人与处世的道理,在形式上也应听得进、记得住、讲得出、传得开,而且不会因时代的变迁而失去她的本质特征和艺术光彩。为了让更多的读者走进好故事,阅读好故事,欣赏好故事,珍藏好故事,传播好故事,我们特编选了一套“故事会5元精品系列”以飨之。其选择标准主要有以下三点:一、在《故事会》杂志上发表的作品。二、有过目不忘的艺术感染力。三、有恒久的趣味,对今天的读者仍有启迪作用。愿好故事伴随你的一生!
  • 满级龙神万界游

    满级龙神万界游

    萧娜:爸爸!那只巨龙好威武!我要它当坐骑!萧辰:是你自己过来!还是我打到你过来?巨龙:TAT萧娜:爸爸,那个怪兽好可怕……萧辰,掏出四千米长刀……萧娜:爸爸,那套机甲好酷!我也想要一套。萧辰,直接从虚空中拿出一套机甲……萧娜:哇,那个小哥哥好帅啊!?(??3`?)?萧辰:……萧娜:他说要我和他结婚……萧辰带上无限手套:少年,我打个响指,你可能会死。一个无敌奶爸带着系统,老婆和女儿闯万界的故事!无后宫,不装逼打脸!
  • 社交女达人:交友建议,教你如何吸引男人找到男友

    社交女达人:交友建议,教你如何吸引男人找到男友

    本书将帮你找到自己,让你了解你真正想要的是什么样的男人,并在他们出没的地方遇见他们;让你做你热衷的事,同时又能认识好男人;帮你重树信心!简单四步,立即执行!让你成为社交达人!
  • 唯恋倾城小妖妃

    唯恋倾城小妖妃

    老天爷莫名其妙的一道天雷将陌无殇悲催的劈到了一个陌生的大陆,在这里幸运的让她遇到了所爱之人。于是乎,两人便开始了一段虐渣渣,撒狗粮的幸福之旅。………………推书…………莫雨流沙的巜繁花万千不及你一点星光》落青樱,丞相府的嫡长女,爹不疼,娘不爱,还被其母当作利益的工具让其嫁给自己不爱的人,落青樱怎能甘心顺从,任人鱼肉,将自己的命运交由他人之手。无心,便不知心痛,便不会在被至亲之人利用时,心如刀绞,痛不欲生!“怀安,你……可会后悔!”“不会,有你……便是一切!”前期有点小虐,后期是甜甜的糖果,透着咖啡的精纯,喜欢的欢迎入坑,么么哒!
  • 冷魅天下

    冷魅天下

    一朝穿越,当她成为号称神之后裔的绯氏一族中人人鄙视的五小姐后,面对他人的欺辱谩骂,无情追杀,她究竟是该低头认命,还是该绝地反击,绽放锋芒?一朝天赋觉醒,她绯千汐再不是任人宰割的羔羊!黑发黑眸如何,污秽不详又如何?即便她绯千汐将要面对的是一条血色的不归之路,她也要爬上世界的顶端,俯瞰曾经践踏侮辱过她的人!冥幽剑在手,傲视天下行,血染崎岖路,勇闯天地间!--------------------------片段一:漆黑如夜的如绸长发,洁白如玉的俊美面容,一个只有黑与白的男人,却是美的让人惊心动魄。宛若星辰般黑亮的眸子缓缓地将目光定在了千汐的身上。“汝,吾之契约者?”蓦地,他浅浅的勾起唇角,露出了一颗尖细的獠牙。那颗獠牙在他俊美妖异的容颜上并不显得突兀,反而是让他看上去越发邪魅。转头看向一旁已经呆掉的众人,男子的双眼顿时冷了下来。蔑视的扫视眼前众人,他犹如王者君临般倨傲的说道:“尔等这群小小的苍蝇,竟然敢将吾之契约者弄的这般狼狈?这么急着找死,吾不介意送尔等集体上路!”片段二:妖媚的男子竟是突然执起她双手,一双魅惑至极的紫色眸子闪烁着璀璨的光辉,清魅柔软的声音缓缓地从他那粉嫩的唇中发出来:“羽儿身无长物,如果姑娘不嫌弃,羽儿愿以身相许!”听了男子的话,千汐猛的吓了一跳,反射性的挣开了他修长白皙的双手,急道:“免了!”片段三:艳红的鲜血溅在脸上,那炙热的温度仿佛灼伤了她的心。漫天飞舞的银发迷乱了她的双眼,看着浑身浴血却依然毅然挺立挡在她身前的俊逸男子,她的眼中霎时盈满了泪。男子缓缓转过头,向来冰冷的面庞上竟是绽放出一抹宛如冰雪初融般梦幻的绝美笑容。“汐儿,我说过,我不会再让任何人伤害你分毫。我……做到了……”银白浴血的身影翩然倒下,第一次展露的笑颜宛如花瓣一般凋零。伤的,却是她的心……-------------------------------------本文女主睿智强大,过程美男多多,YY无限,结局完美!且看女主如何仗剑天下,颠覆三界,与无数绝世美男谱写旷世奇缘!推荐本人完结文文~:《极品妖男一箩筐》推荐好友回眸的文文~:《烟舞天下》推荐好友贝儿的新文~:《丑女闯三国》推荐铁友瞳子精彩文文~:《惑世血莲》推荐一组文文~:《特工下堂妻》:《致命纠缠》
  • 凤凰医妃,皇叔撩不得

    凤凰医妃,皇叔撩不得

    修行千年,重返凡间?前世,渣夫狠毒,灭她家族,赐她毒酒,害她未出世的孩子?这一世,她要翻身做主,改变命运,人挡杀人,佛挡杀佛。某皇叔:“你咬我了,准备负责吧!”某女:“……我不属狗。”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 庄子内篇订正

    庄子内篇订正

    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。