飘

　Grandpa　Merriwether　and　Uncle　Henry　Hamilton。”
　“I’m　not　talking　about　the　little　boys　and　the　Mexican　War　veterans。　I’m　talking　about　brave　young　men　like　Willie　Guinan　who　like　to　wear　pretty　uniforms　and　wave　swords—”
　“And　yourself！”
　“My　dear；　that　didn’t　hurt　a　bit！　I　wear　no　uniform　and　wave　no　sword　and　the　fortunes　of　the　Confederacy　mean　nothing　at　all　to　me。　Moreover；　I　wouldn’t　be　caught　dead　in　the　Home　Guard　or　in　any　army；　for　that　matter。　I　had　enough　of　things　military　at　West　Point　to　do　me　the　rest　of　my　life。　。。。　Well；　I　wish　Old　Joe　luck。　General　Lee　can’t　send　him　any　help　because　the　Yankees　are　keeping　him　busy　in　Virginia。　So　the　Georgia　state　troops　are　the　only　reinforcements　Johnston　can　get。　He　deserves　better；　for　he’s　a　great　strategist　He　always　manages　to　get　places　before　the　Yankees　do。　But　he’ll　have　to　keep　falling　back　if　he　wants　to　protect　the　railroad；　and　mark　my　words；　when　they　push　him　out　of　the　mountains　and　onto　the　flatter　land　around　here；　he’s　going　to　be　butchered。”
　“Around　here？”　cried　Scarlett。　“You　know　mighty　well　the　Yankees　will　never　get　this　far！”
　“Kennesaw　is　only　twenty…two　miles　away　and　I’ll　wager　you—”
　“Rhett；　look；　down　the　street！　That　crowd　of　men！　They　aren’t　soldiers。　What　on　earth。。。　？　Why；　they’re　darkies！”
　There　was　a　great　cloud　of　red　dust　coming　up　the　street　and　from　the　cloud　came　the　sound　of　the　tramping　of　many　feet　and　a　hundred　or　more　negro　voices；　deep　throated；　careless；　singing　a　hymn。　Rhett　pulled　the　carriage　over　to　the　curb；　and　Scarlett　looked　curiously　at　the　sweating　black　men；　picks　and　shovels　over　their　shoulders；　shepherded　along　by　an　officer　and　a　squad　of　men　wearing　the　insignia　of　the　engineering　corps。
　“What　on　earth　…　？”　she　began　again。
　Then　her　eyes　lighted　on　a　singing　black　buck　in　the　front　rank。　He　stood　nearly　six　and　a　half　feet　tall；　a　giant　of　a　man；　ebony　black；　stepping　along　with　the　lithe　grace　of　a　powerful　animal；　his　white　teeth　flashing　as　he　led　the　gang　in　“Go　Down；　Moses。”　Surely　there　wasn’t　a　negro　on　earth　as　tall　and　loud　voiced　as　this　one　except　Big　Sam；　the　foreman　of　Tara。　But　what　was　Big　Sam　doing　here；　so　far　away　from　home；　especially　now　that　there　was　no　overseer　on　the　plantation　and　he　was　Gerald’s　right…hand　man？
　As　she　half　rose　from　her　seat　to　look　closer；　the　giant　caught　sight　of　her　and　his　black　face　split　in　a　grin　of　delighted　recognition。　He　halted；　dropped　his　shovel　and　started　toward　her；　calling　to　the　negroes　nearest　him：　“Gawdlmighty！　It’s　Miss　Scarlett！　You；　‘Lige！　‘Postle！　Prophet！　Dar’s　Miss　Scarlett！”
　There　was　confusion　in　the　ranks。　The　crowd　halted　uncertainly；　grinning；　and　Big　Sam；　followed　by　three　other　large　negroes；　ran　across　the　road　to　the　carriage；　closely　followed　by　the　harried；　shouting　officer。
　“Get　back　in　line；　you　fellows！　Get　back；　I　tell　you　or　I’ll—…　Why　it’s　Mrs。　Hamilton。　Good　morning；　Ma’m；　and　you；　too；　sir。　What　are　you　up　to　inciting　mutiny　and　insubordination？　God　knows；　I’ve　had　trouble　enough　with　these　boys　this　morning。”
　“Oh；　Captain　Randall；　don’t　scold　them！　They　are　our　people。　This　is　Big　Sam　our　foreman；　and　Elijah　and　Apostle　and　Prophet　from　Tara。　Of　course；　they　had　to　speak　to　me。　How　are　you；　boys？”
　She　shook　hands　all　around；　her　small　white　hand　disappearing　into　their　huge　black　paws　and　the　four　capered　with　delight　at　the　meeting　and　with　pride　at　displaying　before　their　comrades　what　a　pretty　Young　Miss　they　had。
　“What　are　you　boys　doing　so　far　from　Tara？　You’ve　run　away；　I’ll　be　bound。　Don’t　you　know　the　patterollers　will　get　you　sure？”
　They　bellowed　pleasedly　at　the　badinage。
　“Runned　away？”　answered　Big　Sam。　“No’m；　us　ain’　runned　away。　Dey　done　sont　an’　tuck　us；　kase　us　wuz　de　fo’　bigges’　an’　stronges’　han’s　at　Tara。”　His　white　teeth　showed　proudly。　“Dey　specially　sont　fer　me；　kase　Ah　could　sing　so　good。　Yas’m；　Mist’　Frank　Kennedy；　he　come　by　an’　tuck　us。”
　“But　why；　Big　Sam？”
　“Lawd；　Miss　Scarlett！　Ain’　you　heerd？　Us　is　ter　dig　de　ditches　fer　de　wite　gempmums　ter　hide　in　w’en　de　Yankees　comes。”
　Captain　Randall　and　the　occupants　of　the　carriage　smothered　smiles　at　this　naive　explanation　of　rifle　pits。
　“Cose；　Mis’　Gerald　might’　nigh　had　a　fit　w’en　dey　tuck　me；　an’　he　say　he　kain　run　de　place　widout　me。　But　Miss　Ellen　she　say；　Tek　him；　Mist’　Kennedy。　De　Confedrutsy　need　Big　Sam　mo’　dan　us　do。’　An’　she　gib　me　a　dollar　an’　tell　me　ter　do　jes’　whut　de　w’ite　gempmums　tell　me。　So　hyah　us　is。”
　“What　does　it　all　mean；　Captain　Randall？”
　“Oh；　it’s　quite　simple。　We　have　to　strengthen　the　fortifications　of　Atlanta　with　more　miles　of　rifle　pits；　and　the　General　can’t　spare　any　men　from　the　front　to　do　it。　So　we’ve　been　impressing　the　strongest　bucks　in　the　countryside　for　the　work。”
　“But—”
　A　cold　little　fear　was　beginning　to　throb　in　Scarlett’s　breast。　More　miles　of　rifle　pits！　Why　should　they　need　more？　Within　the　last　year；　a　series　of　huge　earth　redoubts　with　battery　emplacements　had　been　built　all　around　Atlanta；　one　mile　from　the　center　of　town。　These　great　earthworks　were　connected　with　rifle　pits　and　they　ran；　mile　after　mile；　completely　encircling　the　city。　More　rifle　pits！
　“But—why　should　we　be　fortified　any　more　than　we　are　already　fortified？　We　won’t　need　what　we’ve　got。　Surely；　the　General　won’t　let—”
　“Our　present　fortifications　are　only　a　mile　from　town；”　said　Captain　Randall　shortly。　“And　that’s　too　close　for　comfort—or　safety。　These　new　ones　are　going　to　be　farther　away。　You　see；　another　retreat　may　bring　our　men　into　Atlanta。”
　Immediately　he　regretted　his　last　remark；　as　her　eyes　widened　with　fear。
　“But；　of　course　there　won’t　be　another　retreat；”　he　added　hastily。　“The　lines　around　Kennesaw　Mountain　are　impregnable。　The　batteries　are　planted　all　up　the　mountain　sides　and　they　command　the　roads；　and　the　Yankees　can’t　possibly　get　by。”
　But　Scarlett　saw　him　drop　his　eyes　before　the　lazy；　penetrating　look　Rhett　gave　him；　and　she　was　frightened。　She　remembered　Rhett’s　remark：　“When　the　Yankees　push　him　out　of　the　mountains　and　onto　the　flatter　land；　he’ll　be　butchered。”
　“Oh；　Captain；　do　you　think—”
　“Why；　of　course　not！　Don’t　fret　your　mind　one　minute。　Old　Joe　just　believes　in　taking　precautions。　That’s　the　only　reason　we’re　digging　more　entrenchments。　。。。　But　I　must　be　going　now。　It’s　been　pleasant；　talking　to　you。　。。。　Say　good…by　to　your　mistress；　boys；　and　let’s　get　going。”
　“Good…by；　boys。　Now；　if　you　get　sick　or　hurt　or　in　trouble；　let　me　know。　I　live　right　down　Peachtree　Street；　down　there　in　almost　the　last　house　at　the　end　of　town。　Wait　a　minute—”　She　fumbled　in　her　reticule。　“Oh；　dear；　I　haven’t　a　cent。　Rhett；　give　me　a　few　shinplasters。　Here；　Big　Sam；　buy　some　tobacco　for　yourself　and　the　boys。　And　be　good　and　do　what　Captain　Randall　tells　you。”
　The　straggling　line　re…formed；　the　dust　arose　again　in　a　red　cloud　as　they　moved　off　and　Big　Sam　started　up　the　singing　again。
　
　“Go　do…ow；　Mos…es！　Waaa…ay；　do…own；　in　Eeejup　laa…an！
　An’　te…el　O…le　Faa…ro…o
　Ter　let　mah—peee…pul　go！”
　
　“Rhett；　Captain　Randall　was　lying　to　me；　just　like　all　the　men　do—trying　to　keep　the　truth　from　us　women　for　fear　well　faint。　Or　was　he　lying？　Oh；　Rhett；　if　there’s　no　danger；　why　are　they　digging　these　new　breastworks？　Is　the　army　so　short　of　men　they’ve　got　to　use　darkies？”
　Rhett　clucked　to　the　mare。
　“The　army　is　damned　short　of　men。　Why　else　would　the　Home　Guard　be　called　out？　And　as　for　the　entrenchments；　well；　fortifications　are　supposed　to　be　of　some　value　in　case　of　a　siege。　The　General　is　preparing　to　make　his　final　stand　here。”
　“A　siege！　Oh；　turn　the　horse　around。　I’m　going　home；　back　home　to　Tara；　right　away。”
　“What　ails　you？”
　“A　siege！　Name　of　God；　a　siege！　I’ve　heard　about　sieges！　Pa　was　in　one　or　maybe　it　was　his　Pa；　and　Pa　told　me—”
　“What　siege？”
　“The　siege　at　Drogheda　when　Cromwell　had　the　Irish；　and　they　didn’t　have　anything　to　eat　and　Pa　said　they　starved　and　died　in　the　streets　and　finally　they　ate　all　the　cats　and　rats　and　even　things　like　cockroaches。　And　he　said　they　ate　each　other　too；　before　they　surrendered；　though　I　never　did　know　whether　to　believe　that　or　not。　And　when　Cromwell　took　the　town　all　the　women　were—　A　siege！　Mother　of　God！”
　“You　are　the　most　barbarously　ignorant　young　person　I　ever　saw。　Drogheda　was　in　sixteen　hundred　and　something　and　Mr。　O’Hara　couldn’t　possibly　have　been　alive　then。　Besides；　Sherman　isn’t　Cromwell。”
　“No；　but　he’s　worse！　They　say—”
　“And　as　for　the　exotic　viands　the　Irish　ate　at　the　siege—personally　I’d　as　soon　eat　a　nice　juicy　rat　as　some　of　the　victuals　they’ve　been　serving　me　recently　at　the　hotel。　I　think　I　shall　have　to　go　back　to　Richmond。　They　have　good　food　there；　if　you　have　the　money　to　pay　for　it。”　His　eyes　mocked　the　fear　in　her　face。
　Annoyed　that　she　had　shown　her　trepidation；　she　cried：　“I　don’t　see　why　you’ve　stayed　here　this　long！　All　you　think　about　is　being　comfortable　and　eating　and—and　things　like　that。”
　“I　know　no　more　pleasant　way　to　pass　the