Chapter III。 A Race。
〃Some have greatness thrust upon them。〃 Twelfth Night。
The unexpected volley probably disturbed private Jacob Alspaugh's mind more than that of any other man in the regiment。 It produced there an effect akin to the sensation of nauseous emetic in his stomach。
He had long enjoyed the enviable distinction of being the 〃best man〃 among combative youths of Sardis； and his zeal and invariable success in the fistic tournaments which form so large a part of the interest in life of a certain class of young men in villages； had led his townsmen to entertain extravagant hopes as to his achievements in the field。
But； like most of his class； his courage was purely physical； and a low order of that type。 He was bold in those encounters where he knew that his superior strength and agility rendered small the chances of his receiving any serious bodily harm； but of that high pride and mounting spirit which lead to soldierly deeds he had none。
The sight of the dying men on each side shriveled his heart with a deadly panic。
〃O； Kent；〃 he groaned； 〃Lemme go； and let's git out o' here。 This's just awful； and it'll be ten times wuss in another minnit。 Let's git behind that big rock there； as quick as the Lord'll let us。〃
He turned to pull away from Kent's detaining hand； when he heard Captain Bennett's order to the regiment to charge； and the hand relaxed its hold。 Jake faced to the front again and saw Kent and Abe Bolton； and the rest of the boys rush forward； leaving him and a score of other weak…kneed irresolutes standing alone behind。
Again he thought he would seek the refuge of the rock； but at that moment the Union line swept up to the Rebels； scattering them as a wave does dry sand。
Jake's mental motions were reasonably rapid。 Now he was not long in realizing that all the danger was past； and that he had an opportunity of gaining credit cheaply。 He acted promptly。 Fixing his bayonet； he gave a fearful yell and started forward on a run for the position which the regiment had gained。
He was soon in the lead of the pursuers； and appeared； by his later zeal； to be making amends for his earlier tardiness。 As he ran ahead he shouted savagely：
〃Run down the hellions！ Shoot 'em！ Stab 'em！ Bay'net 'em！ Don't let one of 'em git away。〃
There is an excitement in a man…chase that is not even approached by any other kind of hunting； and Jake soon became fairly intoxicated with it。
He quickly overtook one or two of the slower…paced Rebels； who surrendered quietly； and were handed by him over to the other boys as they came up； and conducted by them to the rear。
Becoming more excited he sped on； entirely unmindful of how far he was outstripping his comrades。
A hundred yards ahead of him was a tall； gaunt Virginian； clad in butternut…colored jeans of queer cut and pattern； and a great bell…crowned hat of rough； gray beaver。 Though his gait was shambling and his huge splay feet rose and fell in the most awkward way； he went over the ground with a swiftness that made it rather doubtful whether Jake was gaining on him at all。 But the latter was encouraged by the sings of his chase's distress。 First the bell…crowned hat flew off and rolled behind； and Jake could not resist the temptation to give it a kick which sent it spinning into a clump of honeysuckles。 Then the Rebel flung off a haversack； whose flapping interfered with his speed； and this was followed by a clumsily…constructed cedar canteen。 The thought flashed into Jake's mind that this was probably filled with the much…vaunted peach…brandy of that section； and as ardent sprits were one of his weaknesses； the temptation to stop and pick up the canteen was very strong； but he conquered it and hurried on after his prey。 Next followed the fugitive's belt； loaded down with an antique cartridge…box； a savage knife made from a rasp and handled with buckhorn； and a fierce…looking horse…pistol with a flint…lock。
〃I seemed to be bustin' up a moosyum o' revolutionary relics；〃 said Jake afterward； in describing the incident。 〃The feller dropped keepsakes from his forefathers like a bird moltin' its feathers on a windy day。 I begun to think that if I kep up the chase purty soon he'd begin to shed Continental money and knee…britches。〃
The fugitive turned off to the right into a narrow path that wound through the laurel thickets。 Jake followed with all the energy that remained in him； confident that a short distance more would bring him so close to his game that he could force his surrender by a threat of bayoneting。 He caught up to within a rod of the Rebel； and was already foreshortening his gun for a lunge in case of refusal to surrender on demand； when he was amazed to see the Rebel whirl around； level his gun at him； and order HIS surrender。 Jake was so astonished that he stumbled； fell forward and dropped his gun。 As he raised his eyes he saw three or four other Rebels step out from behind a rock； and level their guns upon him with an expression of bloodthirstiness that seemed simply fiendish。
Then it flashed upon him how far away he was from all his comrades； and that the labyrinth of laurel made them even more remote。 With this realization came the involuntary groan：
〃O； Lordy！ it's all up with me。 I'm a goner； sure！〃
His courage did not ooze out of his fingers； like the historic Bob Acres's； it vanished like gas from a rent balloon。 He clasped his hands and tried to think of some prayer。
〃Now I lay me；〃 he murmured。
〃Shan't we shoot the varmint？〃 said one of the Rebels； with a motion of his gun in harmony with that idea。
〃O； mistermisterGOOD mister； DON'T！ PLEASE don't！ I swear I didn't mean to do no harm to you。〃
〃Wall； ye acted monty quare fur a man that didn't mean no harm；〃 said the pursued man； regaining his breath with some difficulty。 〃A…chasin' me down with thet ar prod on yer gun； an' a…threatenin' to stick hit inter me at every jump。 Only wanted ter see me run； did yer？〃
〃O； mister； I only done it because I wuz ordered to。 I couldn't help myself； I swear I couldn't。〃
〃Whar's the ossifers thet wuz a…orderin' ye？ Whar's the captins that wuz puttin' ye up ter hit？ Thar wan't no one in a mile of ye。 Guess we'd better shoot ye。〃
Again Jake raised his voice in abject appeal for mercy。 There was nothing he was not willing to promise if only his life were only spared。
〃Wouldn't hit be better ter bay'net him？〃 suggested one of the Rebels； entirely unmoved； as his comrades were； by Jake's piteous pleadings。 〃Ef we go ter shootin' 'round yere hit'll liekly bring the Yankees right onter us。〃
〃I 'spect hit would be better ter take him back a little ways； any way；〃 said the man whom Jake had pursued。 〃Pick up his gun thar； Eph。 Come along； you； an' be monty peart about hit； fur we're in a powerful bad frame o' mind ter be fooled with。 I wouldn't gin a fi'…penny…bit fur all yer blue…bellied life's worth。 The boys ar jest pizen mad from seein' so many o' thar kin and folks killed by yer crowd o' thievin' Hessians。〃
Grateful for even a momentary respite； Jake rose from his knees with alacrity and humbly followed one of the Rebels along the path。 The others strode behind； and occasionally spurred him into a more rapid pace with a prick from their bayonets。
〃O；…ough； mister； don't do that！ Don't； PLEASE！ You don't know how it hurts。 I ain't got no rhinoceros skin to stand such jabs as that。 That came purty nigh goin' clean through to my heart。〃
〃Skeet ahead faster； then； or the next punch'll go righ smack through ye； fur sartin。 Ef yer skin's so tender what are ye doin' in the army？〃
They climbed the mountain laboriously； and started down on the other side。 About midway in the descent they came upon a deserted cabin standing near the side of the road。
〃By the Lord Harry；〃 said one of the Rebels； 〃I'm a'most done clean gin out； so I am。 I'm tireder nor a claybank hoss arter a hard day's plowin'； an' I'm ez dry ez a lime…kiln。 I motion that we stop yere an' take a rest。 We kin put our Yank in the house thar； an' keep him。 I wonder whar the spring is that the folks thet lived yere got thar water from？〃
〃Ef I don't disremember；〃 said another； 〃this is the house where little Pete Higgenbottom lived afore the country got ruther onhelthy fur him on account of his partiality for other people's hosses。 I made a little trip up yere the time I loss thet little white…faced bay mar of pap's； an I'm purty sure the spring's over thar in the holler。〃
〃Lordy； how they must 've hankered arter the fun o' totin' water to 've lugged hit clar from over tha。 I'd've moved the house nigher the spring afore I'd've stood thet ere a month； so I would。〃
〃The distance to the water ortent to bother a feller thet gets along with usin' ez little ez you do；〃 growled the first speaker。
〃A man whose nose looks like a red…pepper pod in August； and his shirt like a section o' rich bottom land； hain't no great reason ter make remarks on other folks's use o' water。〃
Jake plucked up some courage from the relaxation in the savage grimness of his captors； which seemed implied by this rough pleasantry； and with him such recuperation of spirits naturally took the form of brassy self…assertion。
〃Don't you fellers know；〃 he began with a manner and tone intended to be placating； but instead was rasping and irritating； 〃don't you fellers know that the best thing you can do with me is to take me back to our people； and trade me off for one of your fellers that they've ketched？〃
〃An' don't ye know thet the best thing ye kin do is to keep thet gapin' mouth o' your'n shet； so thet the flies won't git no chance to blow yer throat？〃 said the man whose nose had been aptly likened to a ripe red…pepper pod； 〃an' the next best thing's fur ye to git inter that cabin thar quicker'n blazes 'll scorch a feather； an' stay thar without makin' a motion toward gittin' away。 Git！〃 and he made a bayonet thrust at Jake that tore open his blouse and shirt； and laid a great gaping wound along his breast。 Jake leaped into the cabin and threw himself down upon the puncheon floor。
〃Thar war none of our crowd taken；〃 said another of the squad； who had looked on approvingly。 〃They wuz all killed； an' t