"Stand up," said Shorty, approaching Hackberry with the bright crimson rod in his hand. "I"m goin" to measure you for a gra.s.s-green suit that"ll last you till Gabriel blows his horn."
Hackberry gave a howl of terror. The "Squire and Mrs. Bolster began a clamor of protests.
"Don"t fuss," said Shorty calmly to them, as he took Hackberry"s dimensions. "I ain"t goin" to show no partiality. I"ll serve you both the same way. Your turns "ll come after his"n."
The children, aware that something unusual was going on, yet unable to comprehend what it was, stood silently around, their fingers in their mouths and their vacant eyes fixed in the stolid stare of the mountaineer youth. Even the dogs were quiet, and seemed watching the scene with more understanding than the children.
Mrs. Bolster"s mood suddenly changed from bitter vituperation. She actually burst into tears, and began pleading for her life, and making earnest promises as to better conduct in the future. The "Squire and Hackberry followed suit, and blubbered like schoolboys. Mrs. Bolster reminded Si and Shorty how she had saved them from being killed by the{229} fierce Hackberry and the still fiercer Simmons. This seemed to move them. She tried a ghastly travesty of feminine blandishments by telling Shorty how handsome she had thought him, and had fallen in love with him at first sight. Shorty gave a grimace at this. He and Si stepped back a little for consultation.
When they came back Shorty said oracularly:
"Our orders is strict, and we should"ve carried "em out at once. But, talkin" with my partner here, we"re reminded o" somethin". We believe it"s the law that when a man or woman is sentenced to death the execution kin be put off if they kin find anybody to marry "em. Is that good law, "Squire?"
"H-m-m," answered the Magistrate, resuming his judicial manner at once; "that is a general belief, and I"ve heard o" some instances of it. But before sayin" positively, I should like to examine the authorities an"
hear argument."
"Well, there hain"t goin" to be no continuance in this case for you to look up authorities and hear arguments," said Shorty decisively. "We"re the higher court in this case, and we decided that the law"s good enough for it. We"ve settled that if Mrs. Bolster "ll marry Hackberry, and Hackberry "ll marry Mrs. Bolster, and you"ll marry "em both, we"ll grant a stay o" proceedings in the matter o" the execution o" the sentence o"
death until we kin be advised by the higher authorities."
"I"ll do anything. Mister," blubbered Hackberry. "I"ll marry her this minnit. Say the words, "Squire."
"I"ve said I"d rather die 10 times over than marry yo", Jeff Hackberry,"
murmured Mrs. Bolster. "I"ve{280} bin the wife o" one ornery snipe of a whisky-sucking sand-digger, and when the Lord freed me from him I said I"d never git yoked with another. But I s"pose I"ve got to live for my children, though the Lord knows the yaller-headed brats hain"t wuth hit.
They"re everyone of "em their dad over agin--all Bolsters, and not wuth the powder to blow "em to kingdom come. I"d a heap ruther marry Jeff Hackberry to make sure o" havin" him shot than to save him from shootin"."
"You hain"t no choice, Madam," said Shorty severely. "Law and orders is strict on that pint."
"Well, then," said she, "since hit"s a ch"ice betwixt death and Jeff Hackberry, I"ll take Jeff Hackberry, though I wouldn"t take him on no other terms, and I"m afeared I"m makin" a mistake as. .h.i.t is."
"What do you say, "Squire?" asked Shorty.
"I"ve bin studyin" on jest whar I come in," answered the Magistrate.
"These two save their necks by marryin", but do you understand that the law says that the Magistrate who marries "em gits his neck saved?"
"The court is not clear on that as a p"int o" law," said Shorty; "but in the present case it"ll hold that the "Squire who does the splicin"
gets as much of a rake-off as the rest. This is not to be considered a precedent, however."
"All right," a.s.sented the "Squire; "let the couple jine hands."
With an air of glad relief, Hackberry sprang up and put out his hand.
Mrs. Bolster came up more slowly and reluctantly grasped his hairy fist in her{231} large, skinny hand. The "Squire stood up before them in his most impressive att.i.tude.
"Hold on," suddenly called out Tom Welch, who was the "guard-house lawyer" of Co. Q, and constantly drawing the "Regulations," the "Tactics," and the "Const.i.tution and Laws of the United States," in which he was sharply proficient, upon the members of the regiment. "I raise the point that the "Squire can"t officiate until he has taken the oath of allegiance to the United States."
Si and Shorty looked at one another.
"That"s a good point," said Si. "He"s got to take the oath of allegiance."
"Never," shouted the "Squire, who had begun to recover his self-confidence. "Never, as long as I live. I"ve sworn allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, and won"t take no other oath."
"Grave for one!" called out Shorty to the boys with the pick and shovel, as if he were giving an order in a restaurant. "Full size, and hurry up with it."
He picked up his measuring rod and started to take the "Squire"s dimensions.
The "Squire wilted at once. "I s"pose I"ve got to yield to force," he muttered. "I"ll take the oath."
"Who knows the oath?" inquired Si. "Do you, Tom?"
"Not exactly," replied Tom, non-plused for once. "But I know the oath we took when mustered in. That ought to do. What"s good enough for us is good enough for him."
"Go ahead," ordered Si.
"We ought to have a Bible by rights," said Tom.{232}
"Where kin we find your Bible, Mrs. Bolster, asked Si.
"We"uns air done clean out o" Bibles," she said, rather shamefacedly.
"Thar hain"t nary one in the house. I allers said we orter have a Bible.
Hit looked "spectable to have one in the house. But Andy allers wanted every cent to guzzle on."
"Here"s a Testament. That"ll do," said Tom, handing Si one which some of the boys had about him. "Le"s make "em all take the oath while we"re at it."
"You"ll all raise your right hands," said Si, opening the book. "Place your left on this book, and repeat the words after that man there, givin" your own names." Si was as solemn about it as he believed everyone should be at such a ceremony. Hackberry and Mrs. Bolster were not sure which were their right hands, but Si finally got them started, and Tom Welch repeated slowly and impressively:
"You do solemnly swear to support the Const.i.tution and laws of the United States, and all laws made in pursuance thereof, against all enemies and opposers whatsoever, whether foreign or domestic, and to obey the orders of all officers duly appointed over you. So help you G.o.d, and kiss this book."
"And to quit liquor selling, smuggling, spying and giving aid and comfort to the enemy," added Shorty, and this was joined to the rest of the oath.
"I ought to have added that they wash their faces once a day, and put more shortenin" and fillin" in Mrs. Bolster"s pies," said Shorty in an undertone to{233} Si. "But I suppose we oughtn"t to ask impossible things."
"Now go ahead with the wedding ceremony," ordered Si.
Again the "Squire commanded them to join hands, and after mumbling over the fateful words, p.r.o.nounced Thomas Jefferson Hackberry and Mrs.
Sophronia Bolster man and wife.
"Now," said Shorty, who felt at last fully insured against a great danger, "I believe it"s the law and custom for all the witnesses to a weddin" to see the bride and bridegroom in bed together. You"ll go inside the house and take one of them beds, and after we"ve seen you there we"ll consider your cases further. You"re all right, anyway, until we hear from camp to-morrow."
Amid the grins of the rest the boys conducted the newly-weds into the house.
He and Si brought out the sack of meal, a few cooking utensils, a side of bacon, and the package of coffee, which they gave to the other boys to get supper with. They closed the door behind them, excluding the children and dogs, and left the pair to their own reflections.
"Gentlemen, what air you gwine to do with me?" asked the "Squire. "I"d powerful like to git on home, if you"ve no further use for me."
"We hain"t decided what to do with you, you old fomenter o" rebellion,"
said Si. "We ought to shoot you for what you"ve done in stirring up these men to fight us. We"ll settle your case to-morrow. You"ll stay with us till then. We"ll give you your{234} supper, and after awhile you kin go in and sleep in that other bed, with the children."
The "Squire gave a dismal groan at the prospect, which was lost on the boys, who were very hungry and hurrying around helping to get supper.