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Unit 6
A Horseman in the Sky
空中骑兵
1
Carter Druse was born in Virginia. He loved his parents, his home, and the South.
But he loved his country, too. One morning in the autumn of 1861, when the country
was
ravaged
by
a
terrible
civil
war,
the
young
Virginian
said,
quietly
but
gravely,
“
Father, a Union regiment has arrived. I am going to join it.
”
2
The old man looked at his only son for a moment, too shocked to speak. Then he
said,
“
As of this moment you are a traitor to the South. Please don
’
t tell your mother
about your decision. She is sick, and we both know she has only a few weeks to live.
”
3
Carter
’
s father paused, again looking deep into his son
’
s eyes.
“
Carter,
”
he said,
“
no matter what happens
—
be sure you always do what you think is your duty.
”
4
Both Carter Druse and his father left the table that morning with
a broken heart.
And Carter soon left his home, and everyone he loved, to wear the blue uniform of the
Union soldier.
5
One sunny afternoon, a few weeks later, Carter Druse lay at full
length upon his
stomach, his feet resting upon his toes, his head upon his left forearm. His extended
right
hand
loosely
grasped
his
rifle.
He
was
sleeping
while
on
duty.
If
detected
he
would be dead shortly afterward, death being the just and legal penalty of his crime.
Fortunately, no one could see him. He was hidden by some bushes, growing by the side
of the road.
6
The
road
Carter
Druse
had
been
sent
to
guard
was
only
a
few
miles
from
his
father
’
s house.
7
It began in
a forest,
down in the valley, and climbed up the side of a huge rock.
Anyone standing on the top of this high rock would be able to see down into the valley.
And that person would feel very dizzy, looking down.
8
Hidden in the valley
’
s forest were five Union regiments
—
thousands of Carter
’
s fellow soldiers. They had marched for thirty-six hours. Now they were resting. But at
midnight they would climb that road up the rocky cliff.
9
Their plan was to attack by surprise an army of Southerners, camped on the other
side of the cliff. But if their enemy learned about the Union Army hiding in the forest,
the
soldiers
would
find
themselves
in
a
trap
with
no
escape.
That
was
why
Carter
Druse had been sent to the road to make sure that no enemy soldier spied on the valley,
where the Union Army was hiding.
10
But Carter Druse had fallen asleep. Suddenly, as if a messenger of fate came to
touch him on the shoulder, the young man opened his eyes.
As he lifted his head,
he saw a man on horseback standing on the huge rocky cliff. His first feeling was a
keen
artistic
the
colossal
pedestal
of
the
cliff
was
a
statue
of
impressive
dignity. Carter could not see the man
’
s face, because the rider was looking down into
the valley. The figure of the man sat on the figure of the horse, straight and soldierly,
but with the repose of a Grecian god carved in the marble which limits the suggestion
of activity.
11
Carter
discovered
he
was
very
much
afraid,
even
though
he
knew
the
enemy
soldier could not see him hiding in the bushes.
12
Suddenly the horse moved, pulling back its head from the edge of the cliff. Wide
awake, Carter was alive to the significance of the situation now.
He raised his gun
and aimed for the horseman
’
s heart. A small squeeze of the trigger, and Carter Druse
would have done his duty.
13
At that instant, the horseman turned his head and looked in Carter
’
s direction. He
seemed to look at Carter
’
s face, into his eyes, and deep into his brave, generous heart.
14
Carter
’
s face became very white. His entire body began shaking. His mind began
to race. In his fantasy, the horse and rider became black figures, rising and falling in
slow circles against a fiery red sky.
15
Carter did not pull the trigger. Instead, he let go of his gun.
16
Brave and strong as he was, Carter almost fainted from the shock of what he had
seen.
17
Is it so terrible to kill an enemy who might kill you and your friends? Carter knew
that this man must be shot from ambush
—
without warning.
18
Slowly,
a
hope
began
to
form
in
Carter
Druse
’
s
mind.
Perhaps
the
Southern
soldier had not seen the Northern troops.
19
Perhaps
he
was
only
admiring
the
view.
Perhaps
he
would
now
turn
and
ride
carelessly away.
20
Then Carter looked down into the valley and saw a line of men in blue uniforms,
slowly leaving the forest and bringing their horses to a stream. And there they were
—
in plain sight!
21
Carter
Druse
looked
back
to
the
man
and
horse
standing
there
against
the
sky.
Again he took aim. But this time he pointed his gun at the horse. Words rang in his
head
—
the last words his father ever spoke to him:
“
No matter what happens, be
sure you always do what you think is your duty.
”
22
Carter Druse was calm as he pulled the trigger of his gun.
23
At that moment, a Union officer happened to look up from his hiding place near
the
edge
of
the
forest.
His
eyes
climbed
to
the
top
of
the
cliff
that
looked
over
the
valley.
24
And then the officer saw something that filled his heart with horror. A man on a
horse was riding down into the valley through the air!
25
The rider sat straight, a strong clutch upon the reins to hold his charger from too
impetuous
a
plunge.
From
his
bare
head
his
long
hair
streamed
upward.
His
hands
were concealed in the cloud of the horse
’
s lifted mane. The horse looked as if it were
galloping across the sky. Its body was proud and noble.
26
As
the
frightened
Union
officer
watched
this
horseman
in
the
sky,
he
almost
believed he was witnessing a messenger from Heaven. At almost the same instant, he
heard
a
crashing
sound
in
the
trees.
The
sound
died
without
an
echo.
And
all
was
silent.
27
The officer got to his feet, still shaking. He went back to his camp. But he didn
’
t
tell anyone what he had seen. He knew no one would ever believe him.
28
Soon after firing his gun, Carter Druse was joined by a Union sergeant.
29
“
Did you fire?
”
the sergeant whispered.
30
“
Yes.
”
31
“
At what?
”
32
“
A horse. It was on that rock. It
’
s not there now. It went over the cliff.
”
Carter
’
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