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Sally Dows
by Bret Harte
CONTENTS
SALLY DOWS
THE CONSPIRACY OF MRS。 BUNKER
THE TRANSFORMATION OF BUCKEYE CAMP
THEIR UNCLE FROM CALIFORNIA
SALLY DOWS。
PROLOGUE。
THE LAST GUN AT SNAKE RIVER。
What had been in the cool gray of that summer morning a dewy
country lane； marked only by a few wagon tracks that never
encroached upon its grassy border； and indented only by the faint
footprints of a crossing fox or coon； was now； before high noon；
already crushed； beaten down； and trampled out of all semblance of
its former graciousness。 The heavy springless jolt of gun…carriage
and caisson had cut deeply through the middle track； the hoofs of
crowding cavalry had struck down and shredded the wayside vines and
bushes to bury them under a cloud of following dust； and the short；
plunging double…quick of infantry had trodden out this hideous ruin
into one dusty level chaos。 Along that rudely widened highway
useless muskets； torn accoutrements； knapsacks； caps； and articles
of clothing were scattered； with here and there the larger wrecks
of broken…down wagons； roughly thrown aside into the ditch to make
way for the living current。 For two hours the greater part of an
army corps had passed and repassed that way； but； coming or going；
always with faces turned eagerly towards an open slope on the right
which ran parallel to the lane。 And yet nothing was to be seen
there。 For two hours a gray and bluish cloud； rent and shaken with
explosion after explosion； but always closing and thickening after
each discharge； was all that had met their eyes。 Nevertheless；
into this ominous cloud solid moving masses of men in gray or blue
had that morning melted away； or emerged from it only as scattered
fragments that crept； crawled； ran； or clung together in groups； to
be followed； and overtaken in the rolling vapor。
But for the last half hour the desolated track had stretched empty
and deserted。 While there was no cessation of the rattling；
crackling； and detonations on the fateful slope beyond； it had
still been silent。 Once or twice it had been crossed by timid；
hurrying wings； and frightened and hesitating little feet； or later
by skulkers and stragglers from the main column who were tempted to
enter it from the hedges and bushes where they had been creeping
and hiding。 Suddenly a prolonged yell from the hidden slope
beyondthe nearest sound that had yet been heard from that ominous
distancesent them to cover again。 It was followed by the furious
galloping of horses in the lane； and a handsome； red…capped
officer； accompanied by an orderly； dashed down the track； wheeled；
leaped the hedge； rode out on the slope and halted。 In another
instant a cloud of dust came whirling down the lane after him。 Out
of it strained the heavy shoulders and tightened chain…traces of
six frantic horses dragging the swaying gun that in this tempest of
motion alone seemed passive and helpless with an awful foreknowledge
of its power。 As in obedience to a signal from the officer they
crashed through the hedge after him； a sudden jolt threw an
artilleryman from the limber before the wheel。 A driver glanced
back on the tense chain and hesitated。 〃Go on！〃 yelled the
prostrate man； and the wheel went over him。 Another and another gun
followed out of the dust cloud； until the whole battery had deployed
on the slope。 Before the drifting dust had fairly settled； the
falling back of the panting horses with their drivers gave a
momentary glimpse of the nearest gun already in position and of the
four erect figures beside it。 The yell that seemed to have evoked
this sudden apparition again sounded nearer； a blinding flash broke
from the gun； which was instantly hidden by the closing group around
it； and a deafening crash with the high ringing of metal ran down
the lane。 A column of white； woolly smoke arose as another flash
broke beside it。 This was quickly followed by another and another；
with a response from the gun first fired； until the whole slope
shook and thundered。 And the smoke； no longer white and woolly；
but darkening and thickening as with unburnt grains of gunpowder；
mingled into the one ominous vapor； and driving along the lane hid
even the slope from view。
The yelling had ceased； but the grinding and rattling heard through
the detonation of cannon came nearer still； and suddenly there was
a shower of leaves and twigs from the lower branches of a chestnut…
tree near the broken hedge。 As the smoke thinned again a rising
and falling medley of flapping hats； tossing horses' heads and
shining steel appeared for an instant； advancing tumultuously up
the slope。 But the apparition was as instantly cloven by flame
from the two nearest guns； and went down in a gush of smoke and
roar of sound。 So level was the delivery and so close the impact
that a space seemed suddenly cleared between； in which the whirling
of the shattered remnants of the charging cavalry was distinctly
seen； and the shouts and oaths of the inextricably struggling mass
became plain and articulate。 Then a gunner serving the nearest
piece suddenly dropped his swab and seized a carbine； for out of
the whirling confusion before them a single rider was seen
galloping furiously towards the gun。
The red…capped young officer rode forward and knocked up the
gunner's weapon with his sword。 For in that rapid glance he had
seen that the rider's reins were hanging loosely on the neck of his
horse； who was still dashing forwards with the frantic impetus of
the charge； and that the youthful figure of the rider； wearing the
stripes of a lieutenant；although still erect； exercised no
control over the animal。 The face was boyish； blond； and ghastly；
the eyes were set and glassy。 It seemed as if Death itself were
charging the gun。
Within a few feet of it the horse swerved before a brandished
rammer； and striking the cheeks of the gun…carriage pitched his
inanimate rider across the gun。 The hot blood of the dead man
smoked on the hotter brass with the reek of the shambles； and be…
spattered the hand of the gunner who still mechanically served the
vent。 As they lifted the dead body down the order came to 〃cease
firing。〃 For the yells from below had ceased too； the rattling and
grinding were receding with the smoke farther to the left。 The
ominous central cloud parted for a brief moment and showed the
unexpected sun glittering down the slope upon a near and peaceful
river。
The young artillery officer had dismounted and was now gently
examining the dead man。 His breast had been crushed by a fragment
of shell； he must have died instantly。 The same missile had cut
the chain of a locket which slipped from his opened coat。 The
officer picked it up with a strange feelingperhaps because he was
conscious himself of wearing a similar one； perhaps because it
might give him some clue to the man's identity。 It contained only
the photograph of a pretty girl； a tendril of fair hair； and the
word 〃Sally。〃 In the breast…pocket was a sealed letter with the
inscription； 〃For Miss Sally Dows。 To be delivered if I fall by
the mudsill's hand。〃 A faint smile came over the officer's face；
he was about to hand the articles to a sergeant； but changed his
mind and put them in his pocket。
Meantime the lane and woods beyond； and even the slope itself； were
crowding with supports and waiting troops。 His own battery was
still unlimbered； waiting orders。 There was a slight commotion in
the lane。
〃Very well done； captain。 Smartly taken and gallantly held。〃
It was the voice of a general officer passing with his staff。
There was a note of pleasant relief in its tone； and the middle…
aged； care…drawn face of its owner was relaxed in a paternal smile。
The young captain flushed with pleasure。
〃And you seem to have had close work too；〃 added the general；
pointing to the dead man。
The young officer hurriedly explained。 The general nodded；
saluted； and passed on。 But a youthful aide airily lingered。
〃The old man's feeling good； Courtland；〃 he said。 〃We've rolled
'em up all along the line。 It's all over now。 In point of fact； I
reckon you've fired the last round in this particular fratricidal
engagement。〃
The last round！ Courtland remained silent； looking abstractedly at
the man it had crushed and broken at his feet。
〃And I shouldn't wonder if you got your gold…leaf for to…day's
work。 But who's your sunny Southern friend here？〃 he added；
following his companion's eyes。
Courtland repeated his story a little more seriously； which；
however； failed to subdue the young aide's levity。 〃So he
concluded to stop over；〃 he interrupted cheerfully。 〃But；〃 looking
at the letter and photograph； 〃I saylook here！ 'Sally Dows？'
Why； there was another man picked up yesterday with a letter to the
same girl！ Doc Murphy has it。 And； by Jove！ the same picture
too！eh？ I say； Sally must have gathered in the boys； and raked
down the whole pile！ Look here； Courty！ you might get Doc Murphy's
letter and hunt her up when this cruel war is over。 Say you're
'fulfilling a sacred trust！' See？ Good idea； old man！ Ta…ta！〃
and he trotted quic