Chapter 1 An Old Soldier’s Story

2018-04-15 作者： 外研社编译组

Chapter 1 An Old Soldier’s Story

Www.Pinwenba.Com 吧by Jack London

The times were strange then, and at the front was not the only place to have adventures.During the war, some of the most stirring scenes I took part in were right at home.You see that old Colt’s revolver which hangs by my sword?I carried it through my five years in the army, and more than once it helped me out of a bad scrape.

In ’63 I went home on 30 days’ furlough to see my people, also to get recruits.I was quite successful, and by the time my furlough was up, had found between 25 and 30 men who were willing to enlist.There was one young man I had tried hard to get, and though he was willing, his father stubbornly refused to let him go.The only reason he had for refusing was that corn-husking was not yet over and his son Hiram was needed for the work.The only reason which finally caused him to give his consent was the bounty.They were offering a thousand dollars for every man who would join the army, and Hiram promised to turn every cent of it over to his father.So old Zack said he would agree if I would turn in and help with the husking.

My 30 days’ furlough was up, but I was young and thoughtless in those days, and paid no heed to it.I knew the other recruits wished to stay till after corn-husking, and besides, felt that nothing would be done to me when I came back to my regiment with 30 stalwart lads.So I pitched in, and in two weeks all Old Zack’s corn was husked and I was ready to start.

The tickets were bought, and the next morning we were ready to take the train at Rock Island for Quincy.There the men were to be sworn in and would receive their bounties, while our township would be credited with so many recruits.But in overstaying my furlough I had forgotten one thing—the provost marshal.These marshals were men who were looked down upon and despised worse than the dog-catchers.Their duty was to arrest deserters, and since their pay was $25 for every deserter captured, you can see they never let a chance slip.

If they had only arrested real deserters, the people would not have dislike them so, but they were always bringing trouble upon good, honest soldiers whose only fault lay in being a little careless and staying too long at home.The provost marshal in our county was shrewd, brave as a lion, and as mean a man as one could meet in a whole day’s travel.Only a short time before, Tommy Jingles had come home from my regiment and thoughtlessly over-stayed his furlough.On the third day, just as he was boarding the train at Rock Island to go back to the army, Davy McGregor captured him and sent him back under arrest.The $25 reward and the expenses were taken from poor Tommy’s pay, and Tommy with never a thought of deserting.And this was not the only instance in which Davy McGregor had behaved so meanly.

But to return to my story.It was my last night at home, and I was dreaming of war and battles.I had been thrown forward with a cloud of skirmishers.The musketry was rattling about like hail, and we were storming the first outpost, when I heard a loud rap at the door and was awake on the instant.“Come out, Simon, I want you.”

It was Davy’s voice, and I well know what he wanted me for.I made no answer, however, and began to silently dress.His knocking soon roused the house, and by the time I was dressed my sister came slipping into the room.I told her in whispers what to do.She went to the door and talked with Davy, but would not open it.He became suspicious, and I could hear him creeping around the house so as to have an eye on the kitchen door.You see, he was certain I was in the house, and thought I would most likely come out that way.Kissing father and mother and sister, I asked them to say good-bye to the boys, and carefully opened the front door.It was moonlight, and Davy was, as I suspected, keeping watch at the rear of the house.With my shoes in my hand, taking advantage of every shadow and scarcely daring to breathe, I crawled to the barn.I saddled father’s big black stallion, and when all was ready, came out of the barn like a cannon shot.