Унесенные ветром

           DrillalwaysendedinthesaloonsofJonesboro,andbynightfallsomanyfightshadbrokenoutthattheofficerswerehardputtowardoffcasualtiesuntiltheYankeescouldinflictthem. ItwasduringoneofthesebrawlsthatStuartTarletonhadshotCadeCalvertandTonyFontainehadshotBrent. Thetwinshadbeenathome,freshlyexpelledfromtheUniversityofVirginia,atthetimetheTroopwasorganizedandtheyhadjoinedenthusiastically; butaftertheshootingepisode,twomonthsago,theirmotherhadpackedthemofftothestateuniversity,withorderstostaythere. Theyhadsorelymissedtheexcitementofthedrillswhileaway,andtheycountededucationwelllostifonlytheycouldrideandyellandshootoffriflesinthecompanyoftheirfriends. "Well,let’scutacrosscountrytoAbel’s,"suggestedBrent. "WecangothroughMr.O’Hara’sriverbottomandtheFontaine’spastureandgetthereinnotime." 

           "Weain’gwinegitnothin’tereat‘ceptpossuman’greens,"arguedJeems. 

           "Youain’tgoingtogetanything,"grinnedStuart. "BecauseyouaregoinghomeandtellMathatwewon’tbehomeforsupper." 

           "No,Ahain’!"criedJeemsinalarm. "No,Ahain’!Ahdoangitnomo’funouterhavin’MissBeetrisslaymeoutdany’alldoes. Fustplaceshe’llastmehuccomeAhlety’allgitexpelledagin. An’nex’thing,huccomeAhdin’bringy’allhometernightsoshecouldlayyouout. An’denshe’lllightonmelakaduckonaJunebug,an’fustthingAhknowAh’llbeterblameferitall. Efy’alldoantekmeterMist’Wynder’s,Ah’lllayoutindewoodsallnightan’maybedepatterollersgitme,‘causeAhheaprutherdepatterollersgitmedanMissBeetrisswhensheinastate." 

           Thetwinslookedatthedeterminedblackboyinperplexityandindignation.