the fortunes of oliver horn-第63章
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oming to his own town； where he had been born and brought up； and where they should be hospitably received。 If Clayton had his way they would be met with clenched hands and perhaps with blows。 That these invaders were armed； and that each man carried forty rounds of ammunition and was perfectly able to take care of himself； did not impress him。 He only remembered that they were of the same blood as the men who had befriended him； and that they were in great personal danger。
The angry shouts of a crowd of men and boys approaching the Square from a side street； now attracted his attention。 They rushed past Oliver without noticing him； and； hurrying on through the gate； crossed the park； in the direction of the railroad station and the docks。 One of the mob； lacking a club； stopped long enough to wrench a paling from the rickety fence enclosing the Square； trampling the pretty crocuses and the yellow tulips under foot。 Each new arrival； seeing the gap； followed the first man's example； throwing the branches and tendrils to the ground as they worked； until the whole panel was wrecked and the vines were torn from their roots。 As they swept by the Clayton house； half a dozen men； led by the Colonel； ran down the steps； and joined the throng。
Oliver； seeing now that all his efforts for peace would be hopeless； ran through the Square close behind the shouting mob； dashed down a side street parallel to that through which the cars carrying the troops were to pass on their way to Washington； turned into an alley； and found himself on the waterfront； opposite one of the dock slips。
These slips were crowded with vessels； their bowsprits； like huge bayonets； thrust out over the； car… tracks； as if to protect the cellars of the opposite warehouses； used by the ship…chandlers for the storage of coarse merchandise； and always left open during the day。 The narrow strip of dock…front； between the car…tracks and the water…linean unpaved strip of foot…trodden earth and rotting planks； on which lay enormous ship…anchors； anchor…chains in coils； piles of squared timber； and other maritime properties； stored here for yearswas now a seething mass of people completely hiding the things on which they stood。
Oliver mounted a pile of barrels in front of one of these ship…chandler cellars； and； holding to an awning…post； looked off over the heads of the surging crowd and in the direction of the railroad station at the end of the long street。 From his position on the top barrel he could see the white steam of the locomotives rising above the buildings and the line of cars。 He could see； too； a yard engine backing and puffing； as if making up a train。
Suddenly； without apparent cause； there rose above the murmurs of the street an ominous sound； like that of a fierce wind soughing through a forest of pines。 All eyes were directed down the long street upon a line of cars that had been shunted on the street…track； about these moved a group of men in blue uniforms； the sun flashing on their bayonets and the brass shields of their belts。
Oliver； stirred by the sound； climbed to the top of the awning…post for a better view and clung to the cross…piece。 Every man who could gain an inch of vantage； roused to an extra effort by the distinct roar； took equal advantage of his fellows。 Sailors sprang farther into the rigging or crawled out to the end of the bowsprits； the windows of the warehouses were thrown up； the clerks and employees standing on the sills； balancing themselves by the shutters； even the skylights were burst open； men and boys crawling out edging their way along the ridge…poles of the roofs or holding to the chimneys。 Every inch of standing… room was black with spectators。
The distant roar died away in fitful gusts as suddenly as it had arisen； and a silence even more terrifying fell upon the throng as a body of police poured out of a side street and marched in a compact body toward the cars。
Then came long strings of horses； eight or ten in tandem。 These were backed down and hooked to the cars。
The flash of bayonets was now cut off as the troops crowded into the cars； the body of police wheeled and took their places ahead of the horses； the tandems straightened out and the leaders lunged forward under the lash。 The advance through the town had begun。
All this time the mob about Oliver stood with hands clenched； jaws tight shut； great lumps in their throats。 Their eyes were the eyes of hungry beasts watching an approaching prey。
As the distant rumbling of the cars； drawn by teams of straining horses； sounded the nearer； a bare… headed man； with white hair and mustache and black garments that distinguished him from the mob about him； and whom Oliver instantly recognized as Colonel Clayton； mounted a mass of squared timber lining the track； ran the length of the pile； climbed to the topmost stick； and shouted； in a voice which reverberated throughout the street：
〃Block the tracks！〃
A torrent of oaths broke loose as the words left his lips； and a rush was made for the pile of timber。 Men struggled and fought like demons for the end of the great sticks； carrying them by main strength； crossing them over the rails； heaping them one on the other like a pile of huge jack…straws； a dozen men to a length； the mobs on the house…tops and in the windows cheering like mad。 The ends of the heavy chains resting on the strip of dirt were now caught up and hauled along the cobbles to be intertwined with the squared timber； anchors weighing tons were pried up and dragged across the tracks by lines of men urged on by gray…haired old merchants in Quaker…cut dress coats； many of them bare…headed； who had yielded to the sudden unaccountable delirium that had seized upon everyone。 Colonel Clayton； Carter Thom； and Mowbray could be seen working side by side with stevedores from the docks and the rabble from the shipyards。 John Camblin； a millionnaire and nearly eighty years of age； head of the largest East India house on the wharves； his hat and wig gone； his coat split from the collar to the tails； was tugging at an anchor ten men could not have moved。 Staid citizens； men who had not used an oath for years； stood on the sidewalks swearing like street… toughs； others looked out from their office…windows； the tears streaming down their cheeks。 A woman with a coarse shawl about her shoulders； her hair hanging loose； a broom in one hand； was haranguing the mob from the top of a tobacco hogshead； her curses filling the air。
Oliver held to his seat on the cross…piece of the awning； his teeth set； his eye fixed on the rapidly advancing cars； his mind wavering between two opinionsloyalty to his home； now invaded by troops whose bayonets might be turned upon his own people； and loyalty to the friends he lovedand to the woman who loved him！
The shouting now became a continuous roar。 The front line of policemen； as they neared the obstructions； swung their clubs right and left； beating back the crowd。 Then the rumbling cars； drawn by the horses； came to a halt。 The barricades must be reckoned with。
Again there came the flashing of steel and the intermingling of blue and white uniforms。 The troops were leaving the cars and were forming in line to pass the barricades； the officers marching in front； the compact mass following elbow to elbow； their eyes straight before them； their muskets flat against their shoulders。
The approaching column now deployed sharply； wheeled to the right of the obstruction； and became once more a solid mass； leaving the barricades behind them； the Chief of Police at the head of the line forcing the mob back to the curbstone； laying about him with his club； thumping heads and cracking wrists as he cleared the way。
The colonel of the regiment； his fatigue cap pulled over his eyes； sword in hand； shoulders erect； cape thrown back； was now abreast of the awning to which Oliver clung。 Now and then he would glance furtively at the house…tops； as if expecting a missile。
The mob looked on sullenly； awed into submission by the gleaming bayonets。 But for the shouts of the police； beating back the crowd； and the muttered curses； one would have thought a parade was in progress。
The first company had now
