ACT III
The same scene, a quarter of an hour later. It is now totally dark outside. The only light within is a warm glow from the fireplace. The storm has settled into a steady downpour of rain. There are still occasional flashes of lightning mingled with the distant rumbling of thunder.
Matt appears at the front door, driving Andy before him at the point of a gun. David follows them into the house, shaking the water from his hat at the door. Andy seats himself, laughing defiantly in a mood of reckless despair.
Matt
[Glances about the room, then calls upstairs]
H’llo! H’llo, Sid! [Looks at Andy.] Hm!
David
’Parently they ain’t nobody here.
Matt
[Goes to the kitchen door and calls]
Sid! H’llo! [Comes back, his eyes on Andy.] Jist as I expected!
Andy
[Tauntingly, in a spirit of bravado]
Well, I must ha’ been a better shot ’n I thought I wus!
Matt
[With a growl of rage]
Yeh, an’ now ’at that p’int is settled———
[He brings his gun to bear on Andy significantly.]
David
[Seizes the barrel of the gun and thrusts it upward]
Hold on, Matt! I’ve seed more fightin’ ’n you ever did. An’ we ain’t a-goin’ to start another row ’ith the Lowries lessen we have to. Sid might ha’ come back, an’ then set out ag’in arter us. We could ha’ missed him easy enough if he ’us on hossback when we took that short cut across the mountain.
Matt
[Reluctantly]
All right! I’ll see if his hoss is still at the barn.
[He goes out through the kitchen.]
David
Andy, if I ’us as near hell as you air, I wouldn’t try to hurry matters none.
Andy
[Chants derisively]
If I git thar afore you do I’ll tell ’em you’re a-comin’ too!
David
[Looks at him understandingly]
Hmn!
[He seats himself, his gun across his knees, ready for quick action.]
Andy
[Gazes at David defiantly till the silence begins to get on his nerves]
Well, ole Rooster! Whyn’t you say sompen? How’s your whiskers?
David
They’re ’bout as common, Andy. How’s everything ’ith you?
Andy
Fine as a fiddle. I never felt better in my life.
David
You’re a-lookin’ well.
Andy
That’s more ’n I can say fer you. [Laughs.] Do you know what you look like, a-settin’ thar ’ith that ole lock, stock an’ bar’! that you call a gun?
David
I expect I look a right smart like Johnny-on-the-spot to some folks I could name.
Andy
Not to me, you don’t! You look edzackly like a crow sign in a watermillon patch! You ought to hire yourself out fer one! It ’ld give you sompen to do an’ wouldn’t skeer the crows none!
David
I’ve skeered bigger game ’n crows in my time.
Andy
You’ve never skeered me—if that’s what you’re a-drivin’ at!
David
You cain’t fool me, Andy. A man don’t work as hard as you’re a-workin’ now to prove he ain’t skeered unless he is.
[Rufe rushes up to the door, panting from exhaustion. He sees David and stops suddnely in the doorway.]
David
You seem to be in a hurry, Rufe.
Rufe
[Confused]
Yeh—I—I wanted to git in out o’ the rain. It’s got so I have sore throat every time I git wet.
David
Where’s Meg an’ Jude?
Rufe
They stepped up the road a little piece to see if they could find out anything about Sid.
David
Then he didn’t come back here?
Rufe
[Hesitates, confusedly]
Who—Sid? If he did I didn’t see him! An’ I’ve been out o’ the house fer jist a minute. I jist stepped out to the spring an’ back to see if the milk box ’us flooded. [Eagerly] Didn’t you see ner hear nothin’ of him?
David
[Glances at Andy]
Nothin’ we could count on.
Rufe
Well, he couldn’t ha’ come home ’thout me— [He sees Andy and starts guiltily.] Oh! Air you here, Andy?
Andy
Yeh, I’m here. I got a invitation I jist couldn’t refuse.
Rufe
[Tentativley, to David]
Couldn’t Andy tell you nothin’ ’bout Sid?
Andy
[Significantly]
I could, Rufe, but didn’t! All I told ’em wus that I shot at him, an’ as fur as I could see I missed him. [Rufe breathes more easily. Andy continues in the same spirit of bravado, glancing at David] But they wouldn’t ha’ been no doubt about it if I hadn’t drunk so much pop-skull that my hand ’us shaky!
Rufe
You ought to thank the Lord you didn’t hit him, Andy!
Andy
No! If I didn’t hit him it ’us the licker saved him this time, not the Lord!
[Matt enters through the kitchen door, carrying a lighted lantern. Rufe shrinks back into the corner near the bed.]
Matt
He ain’t at the barn, an’ the hoss is in the stall! Does that satisfy you? [He makes a menacing move toward Andy.]
David
[Stopping him]
Not edzackly. Arter all, Sid might ha’ been crippled so he couldn’t git home. Afore you start shootin’ you’d better take the lantern an’ search that patch o’ woods. I’ll ’tend to Andy.
Matt
In that case we’d orter tie him up. If you ever take your eyes offen him it ’ld be jist like him to snatch that ole gun an’ blow your brains out.
David
I’ll take my chance o’ that. But we can tie him if it ’ll ease your mind any. I’ll git a hame-string.
[He goes into the kitchen. There is a brief silence. Matt places the lantern on the floor, keeping his eyes on Andy and his gun ready.]
Rufe
[To break the silence]
I certainly do hope ’at nothin’ ain’t happened to Sid!
[A loud explosion is heard in the distance. Rufe starts with an expression of intense excitement.]
Matt
What the devil wus that?
Rufe
[Slinks toward the door]
It must ha’ been thunder! That’s all it wus! It couldn’t ha’ been nothin’ else!
[He slips out and is seen rushing away past the window.]
Matt
[As if to himself]
Sounded to me like blastin’.
Andy
Mebby it ’us the stopper blowed out o’ hell!
Matt
You’ll be able to tell more about that a little later when you git thar!
[He glares at Andy menacingly. Jude enters from the kitchen, followed by Mze with a lantern, which she places on the table.]
Andy
Well, Sis, have you come fer the funeral?
[She turns away from him to conceal her emotion.]
Matt
[To Meg]
You didn’t see ner hear nothin’ o’ Sid?
Meg
No! What happened to him?
Matt
That’s what I’m a-tryin’ to find out.
Meg
[Looks at Andy]
Don’t he know?
Matt
’Course he knows, but he ain’t a-goin’ to tell us tell he has to!
[Meg looks at Andy with an expression of dumb hopelessness. He avoids her eyes.]
Jude
[Comes between Matt and Andy in a burst of rage]
Why don’t you tell what you done with him?
Andy
Why don’t a mewly cow have horns?
Meg
[Despairingly to Matt]
Couldn’t you git nothin’ out of him?
Matt
Nothin’ but a passel o’ words!
Andy
[Apologetically, his eyes on Meg]
I told you I shot at him an’ missed him!
Jude
If you missed him, whar is he? Why don’t he come home? [He looks at her enigmatically and whistles a jig. She flies into a rage.] Stop that an’ answer me er I’ll— [She seizes Matt’s gun as if to take it from him.]
Andy
Aw right, Sis, blaze away! But I’d ruther you’d let Matt do it. He’s a better shot ’n you are. [She releases the gun.] As fer Sid—at the rate he ’us a-goin’, the last time I seen him he’d ought to be in Chiny by now, if he hain’t run hisself to death.
Matt
That’s a lie on the face of it!
Andy
Well then, I killed him an’ buried him in the sand. How’s that fer the truth?
[Meg and Jude turn away with a gesture of revulsion.]
Matt
You’d be closer to it, in my opinion, if you said you killed him an’ throwed him over the cliff into the river!
Andy
That would ha’ been less trouble ’n buryin’ him if I’d ha’ hit him.
Matt
[Sarcastically]
You missed him apurpose, I reckon!
Andy
No, Matt! Don’t git no wrong notions about me! I missed him because I couldn’t hit him!
Matt
It’s jist as well you ain’t axin’ fer mercy, fer all you’re a-goin’ to git is jestice—an’ plenty of it!
Andy
You don’t have to tell me that. I know you’re a-goin’ to send me to hell the short way. But I don’t want you to make no mistake about one thing: when I go I’ll go a-standin’ up on my hind legs. I won’t go a-crawlin’ ner a-whinin’ fer mercy. [Glancing at Meg and Jude again] To the best o’ my knowledge an’ belief, I didn’t kill Sid. That’s the truth. [He turns to Matt belligerently] But I tried my dammedest to kill him! An’ that’s the truth, too!
Jude
[Accusingly]
What ’d you have ag’in’ him?
Andy
[Enigmatically, after a brief silence]
He turned his toes out too fur when he walked.
[Maeg and Jude turn away angrily.]
Matt
[Restraining himself with difficulty]
Is that the best reason you can think of?
Andy
It’s good enough, ain’t it?
Matt
[Brings the gun to bear on him]
What do you want us to tell your folks?
Andy
Jist say I got drunk an’ turned my toes up too fur!
David
[Enters with the hame-strings and hands one to Matt]
Here! You tie his feet. [Matt lays his gun down. and begins tying Andy’s feet to the chair.] I’ll ’tend to his arms. [Stretching one of the hame-strings out as he seizes Andy’s arms] I reckon these air long enough.
Matt
You’ve been long enough a-gittin’ em.
Andy
Yeh. A little more an’ Matt ’ld ha’ fixed things so’s you wouldn’t ha’ needed ’em.
Matt
It wouldn’t ha’ been no mistake, nuther. If he didn’t kill Sid, he tried to!
Andy
Yeh, I told you it wusn’t my fault I didn’t.
[Matt, who has finished tying him, grabs his gun, with a growl of rage.]
David
[Cuffs Andy]
Keep your mouth shet! [To Matt] Go on! They’ll be plenty o’ time to settle ’ith him when you git back!
[Matt takes the lantern and goes out, closing the door. There is a brief pause. The roar of rushing water is vaguely perceptible in the distance.]
Jude
[Listens]
D’ you hear that?
David
[With a puzzled expression]
Yeh. It must be another cloud a-comin’ up.
Jude
I never hyeard a cloud roar like that.
David
’Tis quair. Sounds like wind er hail.
Meg
It don’t sound like that to me. I dunno what it is.
[Rufe is seen rushing past the window. He flings the door open and stands with his hand above his head, pointing toward heaven, his eyes rolling in a fine frenzy of excitement.]
Rufe
It’s come! It’s come!
David
What’s come?
Rufe
The day o’ His Wrath—when the saints an’ the sinners shall be parted right an’ left! [He shakes his finger at Andy] Brother, will you be able to stan’ on that day? That’s the question every man here’s got to answer—an’ every woman, too!
David
You speak as one havin’ authority, Rufe.
Rufe
I speak what I know!
David
Have you been up to heaven to git the latest news?
Rufe
No, I hain’t been to heaven yit! But I’ve been about my Master’s business!
David
Well, I hope fer His sake that you ’tended to it better ’n you do to ourn.
Rufe
I know I done what He told me! That’s all I know—an’ all I want to know—on this earth!
Meg
[Despairingly]
I reckon that’s enough fer any of us. But I would like to know what happened to Sid. I don’t feel that I can ever close my eyes in sleep er death tell I find out.
Rufe
[Starts violently]
If he’s in that patch o’ woods where Andy left him, it’s too late to find him! The river’s all over everything! Look!
[He opens the door and points toward it.]
Meg
Oh! Is that what’s a-makin’ the noise?
Rufe
Yeh, it’s a-sweepin’ everything afore it!
[Meg, David, and Jude go outside and stand gazing in wonder at the flood.]
Andy
[Calls excitedly, under his breath]
Rufe! Come here! [Rufe turns and looks at him.] Quick! Take my knife—it’s in my right-hand pocket—an’ cut these things! [Rufe moves toward the door, pretending not to hear.] Did you hear what I said?
Rufe
Yeh, I hyeard you, Andy.
Andy
Then hurry up!
Rufe
They’d know I done it, Andy!
Andy
No, they won’t! I’ll take keer o’ you! I’ve stuck by you so fur an’ hain’t told ’em nothin’! An’ this may be your only chance to help me. If the river’s over that patch o’ woods Matt ’ll be back here in a minute. Come on! We can go down the cellar stairs an’ git out! They won’t be watchin’ fer us thar! The outside cellar door ain’t locked, is it?
Rufe
I dunno, Andy! But Matt ’ld be shore to ketch me! I’ll do anything in my power, Andy! [Starts to kneel.] I’ll pray fer you!
Andy
[Shouts recklessly, unable to conceal his contempt]
No! You needn’t do no prayin’ fer me! But they’s one little turn you can do!
Rufe
[Eagerly]
All right, Andy! I’ll do anything you say!
Andy
Then step down to hell an’ tell the devil to have the place good an’ hot afore we git thar! Fer you’re a-goin’ with me!
Rufe
[Alarmed by Andy’s manner]
You ain’t a-goin’ to tell ’em what I told you?
Andy
I’m a-goin’ to tell ’em all I know—an’ a little bit more—if you don’t turn me loose dam’ quick!
Rufe
But you put yourself on oath, Andy!
Andy
It’s a poor fool ’at can put hisself on oath an’ can’t take hisself off!
Rufe
Andy, don’t say things like that! You may not have much longer to live! An’ if you break your oath an’ tell ’em, you’ll lose all chance o’ gittin’ to heaven!
Andy
Heaven be damned! I ain’t like you, Rufe! We’re both a-goin’ to hell, but I’m a-goin’ thar by choice!
[Matt enters through the kitchen with the lantern and puts his gun in the rack. Meg, Jude, and David, seeing him, return from the porch.]
Meg
Couldn’t you go no further?
Matt
No, they’s been a cloudbust up the river. A wall o’ water swep’ down past me ten foot high. I jist managed to git out o’ the way, when it struck the foot o’ the cliffs an’ shook ’em like a earthquake. [He starts toward the kitchen door.]
Meg
Whar ’re you a-goin’ now?
Matt
Out to the barn to pen up the cattle afore they git washed away. [He goes out.]
Jude
[Sobbing]
Oh! It jist seems like I cain’t never stand it to set here—an’ the river a-coverin’ up everything out thar!
David
Don’t fret ’bout the river! The wust it ever does is to come high enough to flood the cellar a little. We’re allus safe here.
Jude
’Tain’t us I’m a-thinkin’ about!
Rufe
It certainly is a quair time—everything a-comin’ at once!
Andy
Yeh, it’s Jedgment Day! [He sings mockingly, his eyes on Rufe]
Are you ready, are you ready fer the comin’ o’ the Lord?
Are you livin’ as he bids you in His Word—in His Word?
Are you walkin’ in the light? Is your hope o’ heaven bright?
Could you welcome Him to-night? Not by a dam’ sight!
Rufe
Andy, I want you to stop that sort o’ thing!
Andy
Oh! I ’us afeard I ’us a-trampin’ on your toes!
Rufe
If it ’us jist mine you ’us a-trampin’ on I wouldn’t say a word! But it ain’t! It’s His—up yonder!
Andy
Ha! ha! I didn’t know you ’us a-standin’ in His shoes, Rufe!
Rufe
You’d a heap better ’umble your proud heart an’ quit mockin’ an’ revilin’, Andy! The Good Book says that them that reviles God’s handiwork shall die! [With a convulsive gesture] An’ they shall, too!
Andy
Yeh, when their time comes—like you an’ me an’ everybody else.
Rufe
[In a sort of prophetic ecstasy]
That time has come! This is the beginnin’ of a new world! To-morrow ’ll be the dawn of a new day!
Andy
It allus has been!
Meg
[Provoked beyond endurance]
That ain’t what he means, an’ you know it!
Rufe
Have patience with him, Meg. We may snatch him like a brand from the burnin’ yit. On that day, Andy, the wicked ’ll be scattered like chaff afore a mighty wind, an’ there ’ll be weepin’ an’ gnashin’ o’ teeth! Selah!
Andy
Toot! Toot! Hurrah fer hell!
Meg
You blasphemer! David, why don’t you make him shet his mouth?
David
I know the lad too well to think I could break his sperit short o’ killin’ him. An’ I ain’t a-goin’ to do that tell I find out fer shore, no matter how hard he tries to make me. [He seats himself in the armchair, his gun across his knee.] Arter all, Meg, the Lord’s will’s too big a thing fer any one man to git a strangle hold on it. Rufe’s dead certain that God allus sees eye to eye ’ith him on every question. Fer all we know, God hisself may consider that more blasphemous ’n what Andy’s a-doin’.
Rufe
[His face distorted with malignant rage, shakes his finger at David]
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsady! Fer———
David
[Springs up menacingly]
Woe unto you if you don’t quit bawlin’ Scripture in my years! [Rufe recoils, taking refuge behind Meg. David seats himself again.] You don’t know what you’re a-talkin’ about, nohow! If your brains ’us turned to dynamite, they wouldn’t be enough of ’em to blow the hat offen your head! [To Andy, with a puzzled expression] Sompen outen the ordinary’s happened to him!
Andy
[His eyes on Rufe]
Yeh, an’ he don’t seem to want to tell about it!
Meg
If you’d ever experienced real religion yourselves, you’d know what’s the matter with him!
David
Humph! What makes you think what he’s got’s real religion?
Meg
By their fruits ye shall know ’em. When I mourned fer Sid you an’ Matt didn’t bring me no comfort. All you thought of wus vengeance. But I feel comforted some now [she pats Rufe’s hand protectingly] an’ Rufe done it.
David
Shucks! If comfort in time o’ trouble ’us religion, most folks could git more of it outen a bottle o’ licker ’n they could outen the Bible! [He looks straight at Rufe as he says this.]
Rufe
[Angrily]
Are you accusin’ me o’ bein’ loaded?
David
Right up to the gills, Rufe. You’re drunk on sompen. I dunno whether it’s licker er religion.
Andy
What difference does it make? One’s jist as dangerous as t’other when it gits into a cracked head.
Jude
The time ’ll come, Andy, when you’ll wish you’d prayed ’stid o’ scoffin’!
Meg
Yeh, you’ll be beggin’ Rufe yit fer a drop o’ water to cool your tongue in Torment!
Rufe
Let ’em revile me! I don’t keer! Let ’em persecute me, lie about me, crucify me! I don’t keer what they do! Fer verily I say unto you it ’ll be better fer Sodom an’ Gomorrow on the day o’ Jedgment than fer them! [He looks at Andy and David significantly.] An’ that day ain’t as fur off as it has been! If I ’us a mind to I could tell you things that ’ld curdle your blood an’ dry up the marrer in your bones!
Meg
[Credulously]
Have you seen a vision, Rufe?
Rufe
[Rolls his eyes mystically toward Andy]
What I’ve seen I’ve seen! He that hath years to hear let him hear! [He pauses and gazes about him impressively in the fashion of one “possessed of the Spirit”] An’, lo, there wus a great earthquake! An’ the sun become black as sackcloth o’ hair an’ the moon become as blood! An’ the stars o’ heaven fell into the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when she is a-shaken of a mighty wind! An’ the heavens parted as a scroll when it is rolled together! An’ every mountain an’ island were moved out o’ their places! An’ the kings o’ the earth, an’ the great men, an’ the rich men, an’ the chief captains, an’ the mighty men hid theirselves in the dens an’ in the rocks o’ the mountains; an’ said to the rocks an’ the mountains, fall on us an’ hide us from the face o” Him——— [He has gradually worked himself up to an emotional singsong like that of the old-fashioned mountain preacher. Meg and Jude have been swaying rhythmically in tune with his voice. They now join in shouting “Halleluyah!” “Amen!” “Blessed be His Name!” etc. Inspired by this, he continues with increasing fervor, losing all control of himself]—that sitteth on the throne—ah! An’ from the wrath o’ the Lamb—ah! Fer the gr-r-r-eat day o’ His wrath has come—ah———!
Andy
Whoa, ole hoss, er you’ll bust your bellyband! When I tell my religious experience I won’t have to stop to suck wind! I’ll spit it out quick!
Rufe
[Shakes his finger at Andy impressively]
If you’d seen what I’ve seen an’ hyeard what I’ve hyeard your tongue ’ld cleave to the roof o’ your mouth! Woe unto the covenant breaker, fer———
Andy
No, Rufe! You cain’t come that on me! Oath er no oath, my tongue won’t cleave wuth a dam! It’s loose at both ends an’ it’s a-gittin’ looser every minute! If you don’t spill the truth, I’m a-goin’ to! An’ that mighty———
Rufe
[Frantically, to Meg and Jude]
Don’t listen to him! His mouth is foul ’ith blasphemy!
Andy
Bretherin an’ sisterin, listen!———
Rufe
[Begins to sing and drowns Andy’s voice]
“I am bound fer the Promised Land!
[He swings his arms camp-meeting fashion. The women join in and sing with great fervor]
I am bound fer the Promised Land!
Oh, who will come an’ go with me?
I am bound fer the Promised Land!”
Andy
[With mingled admiration and contempt]
I dunno what the devil ’ll do ’ith you, Rufe! One thing’s certain, they ain’t no place in hell hot enough fer you!
Meg
David, I’ve stood all that I’m a-goin’ to! If you won’t do nothin’ about it, I will!
David
[Rising]
Well, what do you want me to do?
Meg
I don’t keer—jist so you git him out o’ my sight!
Rufe
Whyn’t you put him in the cellar?
[He catches Andy’s eye and gives him a significant look. Andy, who is about to speak, interprets this to mean that Rufe has decided to help him escape, and remains silent.]
Meg
We can. That’s more like the place whar he’d ought ha’ been put in the first place.
David
[Starts untying Andy]
All right, Meg, I’ll ’tend to him. But you’d better git me the key to the outside door, so I can lock him in, case he breaks loose. [She goes into the kitchen.]
Andy
[Looks at Rufe significantly]
Well, Rufe, in partin’ lemme wish you a long life [menacingly] an’ plenty o’ time to save yourself from the hell fire you’re so skeered of.
Rufe
[With a look of understanding]
Don’t you worry about that, Andy. I’ll pray fer you—an’ do anything else I can. [Meg returns from the kitchen.]
David
Did you git that key?
Meg
Yeh, here ’tis. [Vindictively to Andy] An’ I hope you lock him in tight!
Andy
[Sings as David starts toward the cellar with him]
Wonderful love! Oh, wonderful love!
I’ll sing of its fullness forever!
I’ve found the way that leadeth above!
It’s the way down into the cellar!
[He disappears into the cellar with David. Meg goes ahead of them with the lantern and lights the way. David closes the door behind him.]
Meg
[In the cellar]
Lord! The water’s risin’ in here! That ain’t from the river?
David
No, I reckon it’s jist a wet-weather spring!
[Rufe goes to the door and looks out. He is evidently pleased by what he sees. Jude, puzzled by his manner, goes to the door and turns back, startled and alarmed.]
Jude
Look! The river! Did you see it?
Rufe
Yeh, I seed it!
Jude
It’s most up to the porch steps!
Rufe
Well, ’tain’t nothin’ to git excited about. We’re safe. An’ Andy’s all right, too. It ’ld have to come lots higher afore it could harm him.
[The outside cellar door is heard to slam. Jude steps out on the porch and looks in the direction of the noise.]
Jude
[Calls]
Whar you a-goin’, Meg—out to the barn?
Meg
Yeh.
Jude
Wait a minute an’ I’ll help you.
David
No, Jude, you stay under shelter!
[Jude stands on the porch, gazing out into the darkness. Rufe glances at her, then goes over to the cellar door and opens it cautiously, keeping an eye on Jude.]
Rufe
[Calls softly]
Andy! Is the water comin’ in?
Andy
[Guardedly, from the cellar]
Yeh, it’s jist startin’. You’d better hurry an’ turn me loose afore they git back!
Rufe
I cain’t right now. I think I hear Matt comin’. Don’t worry ’bout drowndin’. It’s jist a little rain water a-seepin’ in.
Andy
[Roars angrily]
That’s a lie, you son of a sheep-killin’ bitch!
[Rufe slams the door to quickly and looks at Jude to see if she has heard.]
Jude
[Comes inside]
What ’us that Andy ’us a-hollerin’ about?
Rufe
Nothin’—jist more cussin’, Don’t grieve about him, Jude. Everybody cain’t be saved. Some are born fer glory an’ some fer shame. Andy seems to be one o’ them that ’us born fer shame.
Jude
[Sinks on the bed and sobs despairingly]
’Tain’t Andy I’m a-grievin’ about!
Rufe
Then it’s him—Sid?
Jude
[Nods brokenly]
Yeh!
Rufe
[Closes the outside door, then seats himself on the bed beside her]
Don’t grieve ’bout him, Jude. He wusn’t born fer glory, neither. You ought to build your hopes on a firmer foundation. They’s still treasure in heaven if you’ll seek it the right way.
Jude
[Half sobbing]
That’s what I’m a-tryin’ to do, Rufe! But all my faith—everything—seems gone now!
Rufe
[Moving closer, gradually]
That’s a good sign. The darkest hour o’ the sperit is allus jist afore dawn. Think, Jude, what a friend we have in Him! Oh, what peace we often forfeit—oh, what needless pain we bear—all because we do not carry everything to Him in prayer!
Jude
I want to carry it to Him, but I cain’t! Seems like I’m froze up inside!
Rufe
[Working himself into an emotional singsong again]
I know what’s the matter ’ith you, Jude, you ain’t a-trustin’ Him! [He touches her on the shoulder, gradually stealing his arm around her.] All you got to do is to trust Him—fully trust Him—sweetly trust Him———
Jude
[Swaying with the same emotional ecstasy as before]
I see! Halleluyah!
Rufe
That’s right! He’ll save you! [She sways with the rhythm of his words, whispering, “Halleluyah” ecstatically.] You’re on the right track, Go right on trustin’ Him. He’ll comfort you!
Jude
[Louder]
Halleluyah! Bless His name! Halleluyah! Halleluyah!
Rufe
That’s it! You're a-gittin’ right now! Jist imagine you’re a-leanin’ on the everlastin’ arms! [She lays her head on his shoulder in a state of half consciousness.] That’s the way! He’ll comfort you!
[He has gradually inclined his face toward hers as if fascinated by the singsong of his own voice. Suddenly he kisses her passionately on the lips. She awakes from her stupor and stands gazing at him with an expression of intense surprise.]
Rufe
Don’t look at me like that, Jude! It’s perfectly all right! [Dropping into the emotional cadence again] The Scripture says fer the brethren an’ sisteren to greet one another with a holy kiss! That’s all it wus, Jude—jist a holy kiss! Go right on trustin’ Him—fully trustin’—sweetly trustin’———
Jude
[Yielding to her former mood]
Halleluyah! Halleluyah!
Rufe
Let them that’s subjec’ to the law live by it. Me an’ you ain’t subjec’ to it. We’ve been redeemed!
Jude
Glory! Halleluyah!
Rufe
[Slipping his arm around her again]
It’s all right, Jude! ’Tain’t no harm fer the Lord’s lambs to play together! Go right on trustin’!
Jude
Glory! Glory! Halleluyah!
[Some one is heard entering the kitchen. He releases Jude and stands by the door innocently.]
Meg
[Enters from the kitchen]
Jude, if you want sompen to do you can come out an’ help me move my young turkeys. The water’s might’ nigh up to the coops! An’ David an’ Matt are busy wrastlin’ ’ith them calves.
Jude
All right, Meg.
Meg
An’ while I’m here David said fer us to fix Andy so he could keep above water if the river keeps on a-comin’ up like it is now.
Rufe
You an’ Jude go ahead. I’ll fix Andy.
Meg
Can you do it by yourself ’thout lettin’ him git loose?
Rufe
Yeh, I can manage him. I won’t untie his hands, You go on an’ ’tend to your turkeys while you can.
[Meg and June go out taking the lantern. The only light in the room is the glow from the fireplace.]
Rufe
[Hesitates, then goes to the cellar door and calls softly]
Andy! [Getting no reply, he lifts his voice slightly] Andy, you ain’t drownded, are you?
Andy
[Roars with suppressed rage]
No, you ring-tailed runt! An’ I ain’t a-goin’ to drown tell I’ve told ’em the truth about that’ shootin’! You’d better git your second verse ready! You’re a-goin’ to need it!
Rufe
[Closes the door in a panic of fear, hesitates a moment, then opens it and calls down insinuatingly]
All I wanted, Andy, wus to tell you that if you’ll gimme your solemn word not to tell, I might mebby could help you now!
Andy
[Defiantly]
Not by a dam’ sight! I’m a-goin’ to hell a-straddle o’ your neck!
[Rufe closes the door and backs away, paralyzed with fear. He thinks a moment, then rushes to the gun rack, takes down the shotgun, and goes over to the light of the fire to see if itis loaded. It is, and he moves toward the cellar door with it. But he stops halfway and comes back as if he had forgotten something.]
Rufe
[Drops on his knees, still holding the gun]
O Lord, Thy will be done, not mine! I won’t kill him lessen You want me to!
[Sid enters at the front. His clothes are torn and his face and arms are bruised and smeared with mud. He stops on seeing Rufe and is about to make his presence known, but changes his mind and steps back toward the door.]
Rufe
If it’s your will that he shall die too———
Sid
[In a deep voice]
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin!
Rufe
[Not daring to look round]
Is that you, God?
Sid
I’m the ghost o’ Sid Hunt!
Rufe
[Turns fearfully and sees Sid]
Who are you a-lookin’ fer? [Sid looks straight at him without speaking. Rufe, still on his knees, shrinks back in the corner near the bed.] What are you a-doin’ here? You don’t need to be a-walkin’!
Sid
I’ve got to ha’nt somebody. You know I didn’t die a natchel death.
Rufe
All death is natchel—if you look at it right!
Sid
An’ all ha’ntin’s natchel, too, if you look at it right.
Rufe
[Shrinks back still further in a paroxysm of fear]
You’d better go back whar you come from!
Sid
I’ve got orders to find out who murdered me.
Rufe
Them orders may ha’ come from below! You don’t have to pay no ’tention to ’em!
Sid
They come from above.
Rufe
[Cowering]
Who is it you got orders to ha’nt?
Sid
You!
Rufe
[Recoiling hysterically]
I didn’t do it! I swear on the Bible I didn’t!
Sid
[Takes a step toward him]
If you didn’t, who did? I’m a-goin’ to ha’nt you till I find out.
Rufe
[Beside himself with fear]
Then I’ll tell you who done it! It ’us Him—up yonder !
Sid
God?
Rufe
[Nods his head in speechless awe]
Sid
How d’ you know?
Rufe
I ’us thar when it happened!
Sid
Will you swear that to His face afore the bar o’ jedgment?
Rufe
I’ll swear the truth to anybody’s face anywhere any time!
Sid
Then come on. [He beckons to Rufe and moves toward the door.]
Rufe
Whar ’re you a-goin’?
Sid
Up thar whar He is, afore the bar o’ jedgment.
Rufe
[Draws back in terror]
No, Sid! I cain’t! I cain’t go up thar!
Sid
What's the reason you cain’t?
Rufe
I—I ain’t dead yit!
Sid
Oh, that’s all right. I’ll fix you up when we git outside.
Rufe
What do you want me to go up thar fer now—like this—when I ain’t ready?
Sid
Fer a witness ag’inst Him.
Rufe
Him—up yonder! You cain’t try Him! He’s Almighty!
Sid
He’s almighty tired o’ bein’ the scapegoat fer folks that do all the meanness they can think of an’ call it religion!
Rufe
[Whispers in awed tones]
Have you seen Him, Sid? [Sid looks at him withSphinx-like expression.] Did He say I killed you?
Sid
I’ll tell you what He said when I git you face to face with Him.
Rufe
[Draws back]
No! If He says I done it, that settles it! Let Him be true, though every man a liar! I’ve allus said that an’ I say it still! But what He meant, Sid, wus that I ’us his instrument!
Sid
[Grimly]
I see! You done it, but you done it all fer His sake!
[He goes toward him menacingly.]
Rufe
[Backs away, shrieking with terror]
Don’t kill me! I tell you it ’us the power o’ the Lord a-workin’ in me!
Andy
[Shouts from the cellar in the same tone as Rufe’s]
Pray, brethren, pray! The day is breakin’!
Sid
[Stops, surprised]
Is that Andy?
Andy
[Sings, mockingly]
Roll, Jordan, roll! Roll, Jordan, roll!
You’d orter be in the cellar now
Jist to hear ole Jordan roll!
Sid
What’s Andy a-doin’ in the cellar?
Rufe
Your folks put him thar!
Sid
What fer?
Rufe
They thought mebby it ’us him that murdered you!
Sid
Then you didn’t tell ’em it ’us Him up yonder that done it?
Rufe
I hain’t—yit!
Sid
No, an’ I reckon you hain’t found time to tell ’em ’bout seein’ me alive after the shootin’, neither?
Rufe
Andy meant to kill you, Sid! An’ that’s the same thing! They wus murder in his heart!
Sid
Yeh, an’ I’m a-goin’ to find out why!
[He opens the cellar door and disappears inside.]
Rufe
[Rushes forward hysterically]
He won’t tell you the truth! They ain’t no use ha’ntin’ him!
[Sid closes the door in his face. He stands trembling a moment, undecided what to do. His eye falls on the bag which he had left by the table in the afternoon. He seizes this and rushes out at the front door. As he reaches the porch and sees that the water is up to the door, he recoils and comes back frantically and throws himself face downward on the bed.]
David
[Enters from the kitchen, speaking to Meg and Jude, who are just behind him]
I’ve never seed the water up to the kitchen doorstep afore. At this rate— [Seeing Rufe] Well, Rufe, you seem to be improvin’ each shinin’ hour.
[Meg, Jude, and Matt enter with the two lanterns, which they place on the table.]
Rufe
[Rises from the bed, trembling in every limb]
I’ve seen Sid!
Meg
Sid!
[They all stop and look at him for an explanation.]
Rufe
His ghost! Right here in this room! I jist been talkin’ to him!
Meg
Glory be! Then he’s walkin’!
Jude
What ’d he say, Rufe?
Rufe
[Starts]
I don’t mind it all now!
Meg
[Swaying back and forth in a frenzy of excitement]
Did he look natchel, Rufe? An’ whar’d he go?
David
Shucks, Meg! Don’t let him git you all worked up over nothin’! He’s lost what little mind he ever had!
Meg
Other folks has seen ghosts an’ talked to ’em—folks ’ith jist as good sense as you’ve got!
David
But only folks that believe in ’em. It’s quair they don’t come after the ole doubtin’ Thomases like me once an’ a while
Meg
How’d he appear to you, Rufe?
Rufe
I dunno! [The cellar door opens. Rufe recoils in horror] Here he comes now!
[Andy comes out of the cellar amid general consternation.]
Andy
[Starts for Rufe]
Hark, brother, hark! The dead are wakin’!
[Rufe retreats to the farthest corner of the room.]
Matt
[Steps in front of Andy]
Here! Who turned you loose?
Andy
Ax the ha’nt o’ the man I murdered! [Calls back into the cellar] Come on out, old ghost! Nobody ain’t a-goin’ to hurt you! I left all my silver bullets at home!
Sid
[Enters from the cellar]
You couldn’t hit me if you had ’em, jedgin’ by the samples o’ your shootin’ I’ve seen.
Jude
Sid! [She takes a step toward him and stops.] Is it you er your ghost?
Sid
It’s me, all right. [He holds out his arms toward her] Here, tetch me an’ see!
[She touches him cautiously, then throws her arms about him.]
Meg
An’ we all thought you ’us dead!
[She begins to weep hysterically on his shoulder.]
Sid
Now, Mam, don’t you an’ Jude spill no more water on me! I’m wet enough as ’tis!
Meg
[Trying to control herself]
Ain’t you hurt nowhar?
Sid
No! Andy couldn’t hit a barn door!
[Andy looks at the floor sheepishly.]
Meg
[Flaring up at the thought]
Well, it wusn’t his fault he didn’t kill you!
Matt
Yeh, he said so hisself!
[He glares at Andy menacingly.]
Sid
[Goes over to Andy and places his hand on his shoulder]
Now, folks, don’t go pickin’ on Andy. A man o’ his marksmanship deserves a lot o’ sympathy. [He glances at Rufe.] Besides, we’ve been swoppin’ experiences down thar in the cellar, an’ we’ve ’bout decided it wusn’t edzackly his fault that he shot at me.
Matt
[Takes a step toward Rufe]
Wus Rufe mixed up in that?
Andy
Yeh, an’ that ain’t the worst o’ his troubles! [He goes toward Rufe, rolling back his sleeves significantly] Pray, brother, pray! The day is breaking!
[With a suppressed cry of terror Rufe runs over to Meg for protection.]
Meg
You keep your hands offen him!
Jude
Yeh, you needn’t go packin’ it on Rufe jist to save your own skin!
Sid
Now, Jude! Wait a minute! Mebby you’ll change your tune when Rufe gits through explainin’ jist how I come to git drownded.
Jude
Drownded!
Sid
Yeh. This wet ain’t all rain. I been in swimmin’ sence I seen you last.
Meg
La! What in the world, Sid?
Sid
It all happened when that new dam give way.
David
Did that new dam bust?
Sid
It didn’t edzackly bust. [He looks straight at Rufe.] It wus blowed up with dynamite!
[They all turn and look at Rufe.]
Matt
Dynamite!
Rufe
[Appeals to Meg]
I didn’t do it! I swear on a stack o’ Bibles I didn’t!
Meg
[Lays her hand on him protectingly]
’Course you didn’t! Don’t you worry! They shan’t tetch you!
Rufe
It ’us Him up yonder! He done it! [He turns to the men] I know you won’t believe me, O ye o’ little faith! But if it’s the last word I ever utter on earth, He appeared to me in the storm an’ I hyeard His voice!
| Matt | Together. | |||
| Shucks! | ||||
| Aw, hell! | ||||
| Andy |
[David stands staring at Rufe.]
Meg
Don’t pay no ’tention to them Pharisees, Rufe! Go right on an’ tell what happened!
Rufe
It ’us while you ’us all out a-lookin’ fer Sid. He come in an’ accused me o’ aggin’ Andy on to shoot him! He cussed an’ reviled an’ took God’s name in vain!
Meg
Sid, you ought to be ashamed o’ yourself!
Rufe
Then he went out to the dam to telephone an’ head off Matt! I knowed the blame ’us all a-goin’ to fall on me, an’ I knelt thar to pray! [Pointing] Right thar in that very spot! [He looks around him and lowers his voice impressively] An’ all of a sudden God appeared to me in thunder an’ lightnin’!———
Meg
[Clasps her hands in an attitude of worship]
Glory to———
Rufe
[Continues without pausing]
An’ He spoke to me in a still small voice, but loud aplenty fer me to hear!
Jude
[Sways rhythmically]
Halleluyah! Bless His name!
Meg
What ’d He say?
Rufe
[With a convulsive movement of the muscles of his face]
“Gird up your loins,” He says, “an’ take that box o’ dynamite you got out thar in the store an’ go forth an’ blow up the dam while he’s under thar a-telephonin’!”
[Matt and David make an unconscious move toward him and stop, unable to believe their ears. Andy stands rigid, his eyes fixed grimly on Rufe.]
Jude
[Recoiling with horror]
Oh!
Meg
[Her whole nature transformed to venomous rage]
Then you did do it! You tried to murder him!
Rufe
[Backs away in terror]
I know it seems quair now, Meg! But He works in a mysterious way! I ’us only———
Meg
[Makes a move toward him with clenched hands]
Take him out o’ here an’ kill him! If you don’t I’ll———
David
[Stopping her]
Now ca’m yourself, Meg!
Rufe
I didn’t do it, I tell you! I ’us only His instrument!
Matt
[Reaching for his gun]
Yeh, an’ so am I!
Andy
No, Matt! This is my job! Sid’s done promised me I could do it! An’ I don’t want no weepons—[holding up his hands]—jist these two instruments!
[He makes a dash for Rufe, who runs into the cellar and slams the door behind him, holding it from the inside. Andy shakes the door, trying to open it.]
Rufe
[Behind the door]
O Lord, if You’re ever a-goin’ to help me, help me now! [He sings frantically, without regard to the tune]
I am bound fer the promised land!
I am bound fer the promised land!
Andy
[Still tugging at the door]
The son of a biscuit eater! He’s actially tryin’ to play the same trick on God that he played on me!
Matt
What’s the matter? Is he holdin’ the latch?
Andy
Yeh. It’s your door, but I’ll give you ten dollars to let me yank it offen its hinges!
Meg
The door don’t make no difference! Go on an’ git him!
Matt
Yeh, I’ll stand the damage!
David
Now hold on, boys!
Meg
David Hunt, are you a-stickin’ up fer that reptile?
David
No, Meg. But I hain’t lost my. belief in the Lord on Rufe’s account. Fact is, I ain’t so shore but what I believe in Him more ’n ever.
Andy
Holy Moses! He’s gone hell-bent fer glory, too!
Matt
[Moves toward the door]
Well, he ain’t a-goin’ to stop us by shoutin’, “Lord!”
Andy
Yeh, the Lord had His chance te punish Rufe an’ didn’t do it!
David
That’s jist the p’int. [Andy starts to break in the door. David seizes his arm, and holds Matt back also.] He didn’t punish him. But He may do it yit if you give Him a chance. [Quickly, as they show signs of impatience] An’ arter what’s happened here to-night we’d orter be willin’ to foller the Lord uphill back’ards ’ith our eyes shet!
Andy
Arter what’s happened here to-night!
David
Edzackly! Take it right straight through from beginnin’ to end an’ the Lord’s been on our side every pop—even to blowin’ up that dadburned dam that had never orter been put in!
Matt
That’s so! I hadn’t thought o’ that!
Andy
Aw! I’ve seen all I want o’ that love-your-enemy truck to-night! I’m a-goin’ through that door!
Sid
[Who has gone to the door to look at the river, comes toward Andy]
Well, don’t be so brash about it, Andy, I expect Gran’pap’s right———
Andy
Well, I’ll be ———! Have you gone crazy, too?
Sid
No, but I believe in givin’ everybody a chance—includin’ the Lord. This is a job I expect He understands better ’n we do. An’ we’re all in His hands jist now. You see the river ain’t through risin’ yit. It ’ll be over the top o’ this house afore mornin’ unless a merricle happens.
[They are all sobered by this and turn toward Sid anxiously.]
David
What makes you think that?
Sid
While I ’us down thar under the dam a-telephonin’, a Message come through that all the dams between here an’ Asheville had busted an’ the river ’us a-sweepin’ everything afore it. It ’us twenty-five feet above high-water at Eagle Bluff. An’ they said if this new dam didn’t hold it ’ld be lots wuss down here afore mornin’.
David
Then we’re all a-goin’ to have to swim fer our lives!
Meg
Has the water s’rrounded the house?
Matt
Yeh. It’s six feet deep twixt here an’ the nearest hill!
Meg
Then they ain’t nothin’ left fer me an’ Jude to do but pray, fer we cain’t swim!
Sid
[Smiles and pats her on the back]
Cheer up, Mam! Things ain’t as bad as that yit. As I ’us a-comin’ down the river in that turmoil o’ water I hooked on to a loose beat and fetched it ashore with me. It’s tied out thar now. An’ we’d better not lose much time a-gittin’ in it, fer that dam ’ll bust up in sections. An’ they’s liable to be another wave like the first un.
Meg
Is they room in the boat to take anything with us, Sid?
Sid
No, nothin’ but ourselves.
David
[Takes his rifle from the rack]
Well, I’m a-goin’ to take this ole gun if I have to swim!
[Meg begins snatching a few small things from the table and mantel. Matt takes the shotgun.]
Sid
[Goes toward the door]
Come on, Andy. I want you to handle a oar.
Rufe
[Shouts from the cellar]
You ain’t a-goin’ to leave me here to drownd? I cain’t swim, neither!
Andy
What makes you think you’re a-goin’ to drownd? Keep right on trustin’ Him up yonder! He’ll save you if you’ve done as much fer Him as you say you have!
[He goes out at the front with Sid. Rufe is heard praying as Meg, Jude, Matt, and David finish gathering up their things and follow Sid and Andy.]
Rufe
O God, save me! You can save me if You will! I dunno how, but I know You can! I’ve got faith in You! I never have doubted You, an’ I ain’t a-goin’ to doubt You now jist because I’m in a tight place! But everybody ain’t like me, God! They’s lots o’ folks that has to have proof! An’ if You save the others an’ don’t save me, like the fool, they’re a-goin’ to say in their hearts they ain’t no God! [There is a moment’s silence. He opens the cellar door and peeps out cautiously. Seeing that the room is empty, he rushes to the front door and looks out, then shrinks back, terrified by what he sees.] They’re right! [His voice drops to a hoarse whisper.] They ain’t no God! [A malignant expression sweeps over his face.] If they is He hain’t got no use fer folks like me! He’s fer them that’s on top! That’s what He is! [He suddenly rises on his toes, as if impelled by some power outside himself, and hurls defiance toward heaven.] Damn you, God! [He gradually collapses, muttering brokenly in a fit of terror.] Now I’ve done it! I’ve committed the unpardonable sin! [Then he screams hysterically as the curtain falls.] Help! Help! Come here, everybody, come here!
The End