THE 200th Ind. Volunteer Infantry3 had been pushed out to watch the crossings of Duck River and the movements of the rebels on the south bank of that narrow stream. The rebels, who had fallen into the incurable4 habit of objecting to everything that the "Yankees" did, seemed to have especial and vindictive5 repugnance6 to being watched.
Probably no man, except he be an actor or a politician, likes to be watched, but few ever showed themselves as spitefully resentful of observation as the rebels.
Co. Q was advanced to picket2 the north bank of the river, but the moment it reached the top of the hill overlooking the stream it had to deploy8 as skirmishers, and Enfield bullets began to sing viciously about its ears.
"Looks as if them fellers think we want to steal their old river and send it North," said Shorty, as he reloaded his gun after firing at a puff9 of smoke that had come out of the sumach bushes along the fence at the foot of the hill. "They needn't be so grouchy10. We don't want their river—only to use it awhile. They kin7 have it back agin after we're through with it."
"Blamed if that feller didn't make a good line137 shot," said Si, glancing up just above his head to where a twig11 had been clipped off the persimmon tree behind which he was standing12. "He put up his sights a little too fur, or he'd 'a' got me."
Si took careful aim at where he supposed the lurking13 marksman to be and fired.
There was a waving of the tops of the bushes, as if the men concealed14 there had rushed out.
"Guess we both landed mighty15 close," said Shorty triumphantly16. "They seem to have lost interest in this piece o' sidehill, anyway."
He and Si made a rush down the hill, and gained the covert17 of the fence just in time to see the rails splintered by a bunch of shots striking them.
"Lay down, Yanks!" called out Shorty cheerily, dropping into the weeds. "Grab a root!"
To the right of them they could see the rest of Co. Q going through similar performances.
Si and Shorty pushed the weeds aside, crawled cautiously to the fence, and looked through. There was a road on the other side of the fence, and beyond it a grove18 of large beech19 trees extending to the bank of the river. Half concealed by the trunk of one of these stood a tall, rather good-looking young man, with his gun raised and intently peering into the bushes. He had seen the tops stir, and knew that his enemies had gained their cover. He seemed expecting that they would climb the fence and jump down into the road. At a little distance to his right could be seen other men on the sharp lookout20.
Shorty put his hand on Si to caution and repress138 him.
With his eyes fixed21 on the rebel, Shorty drew his gun toward him. The hammer caught on a trailing vine, and, forgetting himself, he gave it an impatient jerk. It went off, the bullet whistling past Shorty's head and the powder burning his face.
The rebel instantly fired in return, and cut the leaves about four feet above Shorty.
"Purty good shot that, Johnny," called out Shorty as he reloaded his gun; "but too low. It went between my legs. You hain't no idee how tall I am."
"If I couldn't shoot no better'n you kin on a sneak22," answered the rebel, his rammer24 ringing in his gun-barrel, "I wouldn't handle firearms. Your bullet went a mile over my head. Must've bin25 shootin' at an angel. But you Yanks can't shoot nary bit—you're too skeered."
"I made you hump out o' the bushes a few minutes ago," replied Shorty, putting on a cap. "Who was skeered then? You struck for tall timber like a cotton-tailed rabbit."
"I'll rabbit ye, ye nigger-lovin' whelp," shouted the rebel. "Take that," and he fired as close as he could to the sound of Shorty's voice.
Shorty had tried to anticipate his motion and fired first, but the limbs bothered his aim, and his bullet went a foot to the right of the rebel's head. It was close enough, however, to make the rebel cover himself carefully with the tree.
"That was a much better shot, Yank," he called out. "But ye orter do a powerful sight better'n that on a sneak. Ye'd never kill no deer, nor rebels nuthor, with that kind o' shootin'. You Yanks are139 great on the sneak, but that's all the good it does, yet ye can't shoot fer a handful o' huckleberries."
"Sneaks26! Can't shoot!" roared Shorty. "I kin outshoot you or any other man in Jeff Davis's kingdom. I dare you to come out from behind your tree, and take a shot with me in the open, accordin' to Hardee's tactics. Your gun's empty; so's mine. My chum here'll see fair play; and you kin bring your chum with you. Come out, you skulkin' brindle pup, and shoot man fashion, if you dare."140
"Ye can't dare me, ye nigger-stealin' blue-belly," shouted the rebel in return, coming out from behind his tree. Shorty climbed over the fence and stood at the edge of the road, with his gun at order arms. Si came out on Shorty's left, and a rebel appeared to the right of the first. For a minute all stood in expectancy27. Then Shorty spoke28:
"I want nuthin' but what's fair. Your gun's empty; so's mine. You probably know Hardee's tactics as well as I do."
"I'm up in Hardee," said the rebel with a firm voice.
"Well, then," continued Shorty, "let my chum here call off the orders for loadin' and firin', and we'll both go through 'em, and shoot at the word."
"Go ahead—I'm agreed," said the rebel briefly30.
Shorty nodded to Si.
"Carry arms," commanded Si.
Both brought their guns up to their right sides.
"Present arms."
Both courteously31 saluted32.
"Load in nine times—Load," ordered Si.
Both guns came down at the same instant, each man grasped his muzzle33 with his left hand, and reached for his cartridge34-box, awaiting the next order.
"Handle cartridges35."
"Tear cartridges."
"Charge cartridges," repeated Si slowly and distinctly. The rebel's second nodded approval of his knowledge of the drill, and sang out:
"Good soldiers, all of yo'uns."
"Draw rammer," continued Si,141
"Turn rammer."
"Ram23 cartridge."
Shorty punctiliously36 executed the three blows on the cartridge exacted by the regulations, and paused a breath for the next word. The rebel had sent his cartridge home with one strong thrust, but he saw his opponent's act and waited.
"Return rammer," commanded Si. He was getting a little nervous, but Shorty deliberately37 withdrew his rammer, turned it, placed one end in the thimbles, deliberately covered the head with his little finger, exactly as the tactics prescribed, and sent it home with a single movement. The rebel had a little trouble in returning rammer, and Shorty and Si waited.
"Cast about,"
"Prime!"
Both men capped at the same instant.
"Ready!"
Shorty cocked his piece and glanced at the rebel, whose gun was at his side.
"Aim!"
Both guns came up like a flash.
The Duel39. 139
Si's heart began thumping40 at a terrible rate. He was far more alarmed about Shorty than he had ever been about himself. Up to this moment he had hoped that Shorty's coolness and deliberation would "rattle41" the rebel and make him fire wildly. But the latter, as Si expressed it afterward42, "seemed to be made of mighty good stuff," and it looked as if both would be shot down.
"Fire!" shouted Si, with a perceptible tremor43 in his voice.142
Both guns flashed at the same instant. Si saw Shorty's hat fly off, and him stagger and fall, while the rebel dropped his gun, and clapped his hand to his side. Si ran toward Shorty, who instantly sprang up again, rubbing his head, from which came a faint trickle44 of blood.
"He aimed at my head, and jest scraped my scalp," he said. "Where'd I hit him? I aimed at his heart, and had a good bead45."
"You seem to have struck him in the side," answered Si, looking at the rebel. "But not badly, for he's still standin' up. Mebbe you broke a rib38 though."
"Couldn't, if he's still up. I must file my trigger Gun pulls too hard. I had a dead aim on his heart, but I seem to've pulled too much to the right."
"Say, I'll take a turn with you," said Si, picking up his gun and motioning with his left hand at the other rebel.
"All right," answered the other promptly46. "My gun ain't loaded, though."
"I'll wait for you," said Si, looking at the cap on his gun. A loud cheer was heard from far to the right, and Co. Q was seen coming forward on a rush, with the rebels in front running back to the river bank. Several were seen to be overtaken and forced to surrender.
The two rebels in front of the boys gave a startled look at their comrades, then at the boys, and turned to run. Si raised his gun to order them to halt.
"No," said Shorty. "Let 'em go. It was a fair bargain, and I'll stick to it. Skip out Johnnies, for every cent you're worth."143
The rebels did not wait for the conclusion of the sentence, but followed their comrades with alacrity47.
The boys ran forward through the woods to the edge of the bank, and saw their opponents climbing up the opposite bank and getting behind the sheltering trees. Si waited till his particular one got good shelter behind a large sycamore, and then sent a bullet that cut closely above his head.
This was the signal for a general and spiteful fusillade from both sides of the river and all along the line. The rebels banged away as if in red-hot wrath48 at being run across the stream, and Co. Q retorted with such earnestness that another company was sent forward to its assistance, but returned when the Irish Lieutenant49, who had gone forward to investigate, reported:
"Faith, its loike the divil shearing50 a hog—all cry and no wool at all."
So it was. Both sides found complete shelter behind the giant trunks of the trees, and each fired at insignificant51 portions of the anatomy52 allowed to momentarily protrude53 beyond the impenetrable boles.
After this had gone on for about half an hour those across the river from Si and Shorty called out:
"Say, Yanks, ye can't shoot down a beech tree with a Springfield musket54, nohow ye kin do it. If we'uns hain't killin' more o' yo'uns than yo'uns is a-killin' o' we'uns, we'uns air both wastin' a powerful lot o' powder an' lead and good shootin'. What d' yo'uns say to King's excuse for awhile?"
"We're agreed," said Si promptly, stepping from144 behind the tree, and leaving his gun standing against it.
"Hit's a go," responded the rebels, coming out disarmed55. "We'uns won't shoot no more till ordered, an' then'll give yo'uns warnin' fust."
The Overture56 for Trade. 144
"All right; we'll give you warning before we shoot," coincided Si.
"Say, have yo'uns got any Yankee coffee that145 you'll trade for a good plug o' terbacker?" inquired the man whom Si had regarded as his particular antagonist57.
"Yes," answered Si. "We've got a little. We'll give you a cupful for a long plug with none cut off."
"What kind of a cupful?" asked the bartering58 "Johnny."
"A big, honest cupful. One o' this kind," said Si, showing his.
"All right. Hit's to be strike measure," said the rebel. "Here's the plug," and he held up a long plug of "natural leaf."
"O. K.," responded Si. "Meet me half way."
The truce59 had quickly extended, and the firing suspended all along the line of Co. Q. The men came out from behind their trees, and sat down on the banks in open view of one another.
Si filled his cup "heaping-full" with coffee, climbed down the bank and waded60 out into the middle of the water. The rebel met him there, while his companion and Shorty stood on the banks above and watched the trade.
"Y're givin' me honest measure, Yank," said the rebel, looking at the cup. "Now, if ye hain't filled the bottom o' yer cup with coffee that's bin biled before, I'll say y're all right. Some o' yo'uns air so dod-gasted smart that y' poke29 off on we'uns coffee that's bin already biled, and swindle we'uns."
"Turn it out and see," said Si.
The rebel emptied the cup into a little bag, carefully scrutinizing61 the stream as it ran in. It was all fine, fragrant62, roasted and ground coffee.146
"Lord, thar's enough t' last me a month with keer," said the rebel, gazing unctuously63 at the rich brown grains. "I won't use more'n a spoonful a day, an' bile hit over twice. Yank, here's yer terbacker. I've made a good trade. Here's a Chatanooga paper I'll throw in to boot. Got a Northern paper about ye anywhar?"
Si produced a somewhat frayed64 Cincinnati Gazette.
"I can't read myself," said the rebel, as he tucked the paper away. "Never l'arned to. Pap wuz agin hit. Said hit made men lazy. He got erlong without readin', and raised the biggest fambly on Possum Crick. But thar's a feller in my mess kin read everything but the big words, and I like t' git a paper for him to read to the rest o' we'uns."
"Was your pardner badly hurt by mine's shot?" asked Si.
"No. The bullet jest scraped the bone. He'll be likely to have a stitch in his side for awhile, but he's a very peart man, and won't mind that. I'm s'prised he didn't lay your pardner out. He's the best shot in our company."
"Well, he was buckin' agin a mighty good shot, and I'm surprised your pardner's alive. I wouldn't 've given three cents for him when Shorty drawed down on him; but Shorty's bin off duty for awhile, and his gun's not in the best order. Howsumever, I'm awful glad that it come out as it did. His life's worth a dozen rebels."
"The blazes you say. I'd have you know, Yank, that one Confederit is wuth a whole rijimint o' Lincoln hirelings. I'll—"147
"O, come off—come off—that's more o' your old five-to-one gas," said Si irritatingly. "I thought we'd walloped that dumbed nonsense out o' your heads long ago. We've showed right along that, man for man, we're a sight better'n you. We've always licked you when we've had anything like a fair show. At Stone River you had easy two men to our one, and yit we got away with you."
"'Tain't so. It's a lie. If hit wuzzent for the148 Dutch and Irish you hire, you couldn't fight we'uns at all."
"Look here, reb," said Si, getting hot around the ears, "I'm neither a Dutchman nor an Irishman; we hain't a half dozen in our company. I'm a better man than you've got in your regiment65. Either me or Shorty kin lick any man you put up; Co. Q kin lick your company single-handed and easy; the 200th Injianny kin lick any regiment in the rebel army. To prove it, I kin lick you right here."
Si Wants a Fight 147
Si thrust the plug of tobacco into his blouse pocket and began rolling up his sleeves.
The rebel did not seem at all averse66 to the trial and squared off at him. Then Shorty saw the belligerent67 attitude and yelled:
"Come, Si. Don't fight there. That's no place. If you're goin' to fight, come up on level ground, where it kin be fair and square. Come up here, or we'll go over there."
"O, come off," shouted the rebel on the other side. "Don't be a fool, Bill. Fist-foutin' don't settle nothin'. Come back here and git your gun if ye want to fout. But don't le's fout no more to-day. Thar's plenty of it for ter-morrer. Le's keep quiet and peaceful now. I want powerfully to take a swim. Air you fellers agreed?"
"Yes; yes," shouted Shorty. "You fellers keep to your side o' the river, and we will to ours."
The agreement was carried into instantaneous effect, and soon both sides of the stream were filled with laughing, romping68, splashing men.
There was something very exhilarating in the cool, clear, mountain water of the stream. The boys149 got to wrestling, and Si came off victorious69 in two or three bouts70 with his comrades.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo," he shouted, imitating the crow of a rooster. "I kin duck any man in the 200th Injianny."
The challenge reached the ears of the rebel with whom Si had traded. He was not satisfied with the result of his conference.
"You kin crow over your fellers, Yank," he shouted; "but you dassent come to the middle an' try me two falls outen three."
Si immediately made toward him. They surveyed each other warily71 for a minute to get the advantages of the first clinch72, when a yell came from the rebel side:
"Scatter73, Confeds! Hunt yer holes, Yanks! The Cunnel's a-comin'."
Both sides ran up their respective banks, snatched up their guns, took their places behind their trees, and opened a noisy but harmless fire.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
pickets
|
|
| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
picket
|
|
| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
infantry
|
|
| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
incurable
|
|
| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
vindictive
|
|
| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
deploy
|
|
| v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
grouchy
|
|
| adj.好抱怨的；愠怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
twig
|
|
| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
covert
|
|
| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
beech
|
|
| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
lookout
|
|
| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ram
|
|
| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
rammer
|
|
| n.撞锤；夯土机；拨弹机；夯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bin
|
|
| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
sneaks
|
|
| abbr.sneakers (tennis shoes) 胶底运动鞋（网球鞋）v.潜行( sneak的第三人称单数 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
expectancy
|
|
| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
poke
|
|
| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
courteously
|
|
| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
cartridge
|
|
| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
cartridges
|
|
| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
punctiliously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
rib
|
|
| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
duel
|
|
| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
thumping
|
|
| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
trickle
|
|
| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
bead
|
|
| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
alacrity
|
|
| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
shearing
|
|
| n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
anatomy
|
|
| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
protrude
|
|
| v.使突出，伸出，突出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
musket
|
|
| n.滑膛枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
disarmed
|
|
| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
overture
|
|
| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
antagonist
|
|
| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
bartering
|
|
| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
truce
|
|
| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
waded
|
|
| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
scrutinizing
|
|
| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
unctuously
|
|
| adv.油腻地，油腔滑调地；假惺惺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
64
frayed
|
|
| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
averse
|
|
| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
belligerent
|
|
| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
romping
|
|
| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
bouts
|
|
| n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
warily
|
|
| adv.留心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
clinch
|
|
| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |