NEVER was there so wild a storm but there was a wilder one; never such a downpour of rain but there could be a greater deluge1.
"Seemed to me yesterday," said Si, on the morning of June 25, as he vainly tried to peer through the dashing drench2 and locate some of the other regiments3 of the division, "that they was givin' us one of Noah's Deluge days that they'd happened to have left over. Seemed that it couldn't be no worse, but this beats it. I don't think that standin' under Niagara Falls could be no worse. Howsomever, this can't last long. There ain't water enough in the United States to keep this up a great while."
"Don't be so sure o' that," said Shorty, handing Si the end of a blanket, that he might help wring5 it out. "I believe the Lord sometimes thinks that He didn't divide the land and water jest right in the first place, and that He'd better 've made a big lake o' Tennessee instead o' these old clay knobs for rebels and niggers to roost on, and He starts in to carry out that idee. I wish He'd finish the job at once, and turn the whole blasted region over to the navy. It looks as if He had that in mind now."
"Well," said the ever-hopeful Si, "the Bible says that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike. If it's tough on us, it's jest as tough on them. Their guns wouldn't go off any better'n ours yesterday. If that regiment4 in front of us could've shot like they can on a dry day they'd 've made a sick time for us."
About 60,000 union soldiers and 45,000 rebels struggled through the deluges7 of rain, the torrential streams and fathomless9 mud those June days, when it seemed that every water-gate of the heavens was wide open as it had never been before.
The calamity10 that Si and Shorty had foreseen came about. The 200th Ind. lost the advance of the brigade and brought up the rear, which meant a long day of muscle-straining, temper-wrecking struggles with stalling wagons13, discouraged mules15 and stupid teamsters. And as Co. Q was the left of the regiment, it caught the worst of all.
The 200th Ind. had scarcely pulled out of camp when its troubles became acute. At the foot of the hill which had been carried the day before ran a brook16, ordinarily quite a modest stream, but now raging like a mill-race. The two other regiments of the brigade and all of the 200th Ind. but Co. Q had managed to get across by means of trees which had been felled over the stream at various places. Co. Q was left behind to see that the teams got over, while the rest of the 200th Ind. was halted on the farther bank, to watch the operation and give help if needed. Si, with a squad17 in which was Shorty, was ordered to take the first team, which it happened Groundhog drove, down into the stream and start it across.
"Now, be very careful with that wagon12," called the Adjutant across the stream. "That has the Headquarters' things and papers. Don't let any water get into the bed. Cross at the shallowest place."
Si and Shorty found some poles, and prodded18 around as well as they were able in the crossing to find the shallowest place. If there was a part so shallow that the bed could be kept above water it was very narrow, and would require exceedingly skillful driving to keep on it. The whole regiment stood around, like a barnyard full of turkeys on a wet day, and looked on with an air of soppy melancholy19.
"Groundhog," said Si, approaching that function ary, "was you watchin' carefully while me and Shorty was pickin' out the shallow places?"
"Naw," answered he, insolently20; "wasn't watchin' nothin' but my mules. Got enough to do takin' keer o' them, without watchin' a couple o' fools projeckin' around with poles in a mud-hole. No sense in it, nohow. We never kin11 git acrost that 'ere tail-race. Only thing to do is to go back into camp till it quits rainin' and the water runs out."
"Groundhog," said Si resolutely21, "you're not goin' back to camp; you're not goin' to wait till it stops rainin'. You're goin' right over now, as sure as my name's Si Klegg, or I'll break every bone in your karkiss."
"I can't go over," persisted Groundhog. "I ain't no fool. I know better what kin be done with an army wagon and six mules than any Injianny galoot that ever wore stripes or shoulder-straps. You simply can't git a wagon acrost that branch, and I ain't goin' to try."
"Groundhog," said Shorty, "you've bin22 itchin' to be killed for at least a year, that I know of probably as long as you've lived. You ought've had a stone tied to your neck and bin flung into the crick as soon's you was born. I've promised myself a good many times that I'd about murder you when ever I had time, but something's always made me neglect it. I'm in the killin' mood to-day, and I'd like to begin on you. I certainly will unless you drive that team straight acrost, and don't git a drop o' water in the bed o' the wagon."
"Come, hurry up, over there," shouted the Adjutant. "We can't wait all day. What's the matter with you? Get a move on you."
"All right, sir; we'll start at once, sir," said Si with ostentatious alacrity23.
Shorty slapped his bayonet on, and brought the point very near Groundhog's abdomen24. "I'll jab this thing clean through you in a holy minute, you pusillanimous25 basswood cullin'; you pestiferous pile o' pizen, rotten punk," he said savagely26. "Git on your wheel-mule14 and gether up the lines."
Impelled28 by this, and the vigorous clutch of Si upon his collar, Groundhog climbed clumsily into the saddle and sullenly29 brandished30 his whip.
The mules made a start and went down the bank, but at the edge of the turbid31 torrent8 the leaders set their legs as stiffly as if they were the supports of a sawhorse. They did not make a sound, but somehow the other four understood, with electric suddenness, and their legs set like posts.
"Jest as I expected," said Groundhog, with a grunt32 of satisfaction; "they've balked33 for all day, an' you can't git 'em to move another foot if you killed 'em. They're as solid as if they'd growed there."
With an air of having encountered the irresistible34, he started to get out of his saddle.
"Stay in there, confound you," said Shorty, prodding35 him with his bayonet. "Lick them mules. Make 'em start."
"'Bout6 as much use in lickin' a white-oak stump," said Groundhog, plying36 the whip viciously as a relief to his feelings. "You kin lick every inch of skin off 'em, and they won't move no more'n a gravestone."
"Start those mules along. Stop fooling,' said the Adjutant impatiently.
"We can't start 'em. They're balkin', sir," said Si desperately37.
"Nonsense, nonsense," said the Adjutant. "Come ahead. Don't you see you're stopping the Second Brigade and all its teams?"
The men of the Second Brigade were already swarming38 across on the logs, while looking backward Si and Shorty could see the road filling up with teams. They ran down to the lead mules and caught them by the bridles39 and tried to pull them ahead. They might as well have pulled at the giant sycamore trees growing along the banks.
Everybody now began to take an interest in the affair. It is one of the delightful40 peculiarities41 of human nature that everybody knows better how to manage a balky horse or mule than the unfortunate man who is trying to.
"Stop whippin' them mules. You only make them wuss," shouted one man authoritatively42. "Tie stones to their tails."
"Tie a string around their ears," shouted another. "That'll be sure to start 'em."
"Bite their ears, you fools. Don't you know nothin' about mules? Bite their ears, I tell you," shouted a man from Indianapolis.
"Throw some hot water on 'em."
"Tie their feet and tails together with a string."
"Build a fire under 'em."
"Turn the harness around the other way on 'em."
"Blindfold43 'em."
Then the regimental humorists began to get in their work:
"Sing 'em the 'Battle Cry o' Freedom.'"
"They've struck for more grub. Promise 'em double rations44 till we get to Shelbyville."
"Stop swearin', there, you fellers. You've frozen 'em stiff with your bad language. Pray with 'em."
"Read them the Emancipation45 Proclamation."
"Call 'em pet names. You can do anything with kindness. Even a mule has, a heart."
"Bring up the band and serenade 'em."
Shorty was raging around the team, kicking and striking first at one mule and then at another, and swearing like a pirate, alternately at the team and then at the jeering46 crowds. Si was following suit to the best of his ability, but his pious47 education had left him out of sight of Shorty when it came to using language that the occasion seemed to justify48. He had, however, yanked Groundhog out of the saddle and driven him up the bank, where he sat down and grinned at the confusion which had overtaken his enemies.
Setting a man at the head of each mule to coax49 and encourage him, and the rest of the company to pushing and prying50 on the wagon, Si had mounted the wheel-mule himself and put forth51 his mule-knowledge in one feverish52 effort, which was as futile53 as it was desperate, for the mules did not seem to change their positions for a rest, even, when the wagon was forced forward on them.
A very dapper young Aid, fresh from West Point, and with that high appreciation54 for himself that can only be acquired at the United States Military Academy, galloped55 up, sternly ordering everybody to make way for him, and,
"Present the compliments of the Major-General commanding the division, and what the h—'s the matter?"
"Capt. McGillicuddy, to whom the young gentle man had been referred as in charge, said quietly:
"You see: A mule-team has balked and stopped everything. We're doing our best to start them, but so far without success."
"So we all perceive," said the young man superciliously56. "Why are you not down there directing them?"
"The men that I have down there thoroughly57 understand mules, and are doing their very utmost. They are having, as you can see, a superfluity of advice which is not helping58 them. I can best help by letting them alone to work it out their own way. They will do all that men can."
"I shall report the case to the General," said the Aid, with scarcely-concealed insolence59. "Just like these confounded volunteers," he said as he turned away, taking no pains to keep the Captain from overhearing. "Never will be genuine soldiers in the world. Here, my men," continued he, riding over to the wagon, "stir yourselves lively, now, and start these wagons along. I want no more fooling, and won't have it. Start, now."
Shorty had the usual volunteer dislike to young West Pointers; like the rest of the men he cordially hated and ridiculed60 the young and airy staff officers, whether from West Point or not. It irritated him to see the youngster's treatment of his Captain. Saying snappy things at and about the Captain was a privilege jealously reserved to members of the company. To have anybody outside abuse the Captain was an insult to be resented. Above all, his American soul rose in wrath61 at the patronizing "my men." He would not have been at all offended at one of his own rough-and-ready officers jumping in and distributing curses on all hands, but "my men" was too much for him.
Without appearing to notice the presence of the Aid, Shorty walked up to the lead-mule, gave him a tremendous kick in the ribs62, and sung out in a tone loud enough to be heard across the roaring branch:
"You pernickety pile o' poll-evil; you hee-hawin' graduate o' West Point; you pin-feathered, taller-faced, pop-eyed, lantern-jawed, loud-mouthed Second Lieutenant63, you, won't you git up?"
The other boys began to catch on and grin. The Aid's face flushed, but Shorty continued his loud objurgations at the mule:
"You misbegotten pill o' perdition; you pompous64, puddin'-headed staff officer; you miserable65 errand-boy for the General, puttin' on more airs than the General; you half-hatched officer, runnin' around yit with the shell on your head, and pretendin' to be cock-o'-the-walk, won't you git up?"
Even the Aid began to understand the drift of Shorty's remarks by this time, and Capt. McGillicuddy called out warningly:
"Shorty! Shorty!"'
Si looked in amazement66 at this new development of his partner's genius. The officers and men on the other side of the branch seemed to have forgotten for the moment the annoyance67 of the balked team in enjoyment68 of Shorty's outburst.
"Why under heaven they put such murrain cattle as you in the army I can't tell," he continued with another savage27 kick in the mule's side. "You only take up room from your betters. You don't fight, you only strut69 like a turkey-cock, and eat and he-haw. Now, will you git up?"
The Aid could not fail to understand now. He burst out in a torrent of rage: "You infernal scoundrel," he shouted, forcing his horse up to Shorty; "I'll have you shot for insubordination, for insulting and mutinous70 language to your superior officer."
"I wasn't sayin' nothin' to you," said Shorty, looking up with an air of surprise. "I hain't had nothin' to do with you. I was cussin' this other piebald pilgarlic from West Point; this other pig headed pickaninny o' the Regular Army; this Brevet-Second Lieutenant o' the Quartermaster's Department, and Aid on the staff o' Gen. Groundhog. You ain't my superior officer, nohow."
"Corporal," shouted the Aid to Si, "take this rascal71 up there on the bank and buck-and-gag him. Do it at once."
"I don't believe you have the right to give me orders, sir," said Si respectfully. "I am under Capt. McGillicuddy's orders."
"You are right, Corporal," said Capt. McGillicuddy, stepping forward. "Lieutenant, you cannot order one of my men to be punished. You have no right to command here. You are merely to convey the General's orders to those who are in command."
"I have the right to give orders. I represent the General, and speak in his name, and I order that man to be bucked-and-gagged," reiterated72 the Aid in a flame of anger. "I'll see that it is done. I shall not be so insulted before the whole army. It will destroy all discipline."
"Fortunately, the discipline of the army does not depend on the respect shown Second Lieutenants," Capt. McGillicuddy could not help saying. "If you have any complaint to make against one of my men, state it to me, their Captain, or to the Colonel of the regiment. We are the persons, not you, to deal with them."
The men around understood; nothing pleased them better than to see a bumptious73 young Aid sat down upon, and they were outspoken74 in their delight.
"I shall report you to the General, and have you court-martialed," said the Aid, shaking his fist at Capt. McGillicuddy. "I shall!"
"Mr. Farwell," said the Chief of Staff, riding up, "why haven't you reported to the General as to the trouble here? We've been waiting for you."
"Here," came the clear-cut tones of the Colonel across the branch; "no use of wasting any more time on those mules. They're there to stay. Unhitch them, fasten on a picket-rope, and we'll pull the wagon across from this side."
Everybody sprang to execute this order, but Si and Shorty's hands had not reached the traces when an idea seemed to shoot simultaneously75 through each of the six mules, and with one impulse they plunged76 ahead, directly into the swollen77 waters.
Si and Shorty sprang back toward their heads to guide them over the narrow crossing. But the mules seemed to take the right course by instinct, and landed the wagon safely on the other side, without a particle of water entering the bed. Everybody cheered, and Si and Shorty looked as if their minds had been relieved of a terrible load.
"Si," said Shorty, with a tinge78 of weariness in his tone, "they say it is about 18 miles from here to Shelbyville."
"Somethin' like that," answered Si.
"I think there are about three o' these cricks to every mile. Do you really suppose we'll be able to git there before our three years is up?"
"All depends on the mules," answered Si cheerily. "If this sudden spell o' goodness holds out we may get there before evening."
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1
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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drench
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| v.使淋透，使湿透 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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7
deluges
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| v.使淹没( deluge的第三人称单数 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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10
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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13
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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15
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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abdomen
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| n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
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pusillanimous
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| adj.懦弱的，胆怯的 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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33
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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43
blindfold
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| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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44
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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45
emancipation
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| n.（从束缚、支配下）解放 | |
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46
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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48
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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49
coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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50
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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51
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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52
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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53
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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54
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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55
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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56
superciliously
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| adv.高傲地；傲慢地 | |
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57
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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58
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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59
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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63
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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64
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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66
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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67
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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68
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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69
strut
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| v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆 | |
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70
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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72
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
bumptious
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| adj.傲慢的 | |
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74
outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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75
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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76
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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77
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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78
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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