clotelle(有色女英雄)-第12章
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feel for Isabella； for he； like her； had been separated from near and dear
relatives； and he often tried to console the poor woman。 One day Isabella
observed to him that her hair was growing out again。
〃Yes；〃 replied William； 〃you look a good deal like a man with your
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short hair。〃
〃Oh；〃 rejoined she； 〃I have often been told that I would make a better
looking man than woman； and if I had the money I might avail myself of it
to big farewell to this place。〃
In a moment afterwards； Isabella feared that she had said too much；
and laughingly observed； 〃I am always talking some nonsense； you must
not heed me。〃
William was a tall； full…blooded African； whose countenance beamed
with intelligence。 Being a mechanic； he had by industry earned more
money than he had paid to his owner for his time； and this he had laid
aside； with the hope that he might some day get enough to purchase his
freedom。 He had in his chest about a hundred and fifty dollars。 His was a
heart that felt for others； and he had again and again wiped the tears from
his eyes while listening to Isabella's story。
〃If she can get free with a little money； why not give her what I have？〃
thought he； and then resolved to do it。
An hour after； he entered the quadroon's room； and； laying the money
in her lap； said；
〃There； Miss Isabella； you said just now that if you had the means you
would leave this place。 There is money enough to take you to England；
where you will be free。 You are much fairer than many of the white
women of the South； and can easily pass for a free white woman。〃
At first Isabella thought it was a plan by which the negro wished to try
her fidelity to her owner； but she was soon convinced； by his earnest
manner and the deep feeling he manifested； that he was entirely sincere。
〃I will take the money；〃 said she； 〃only on one condition； and that is
that I effect your escape； as well as my own。〃
〃How can that be done？〃 he inquired； eagerly。
〃I will assume the disguise of a gentleman； and you that of a servant；
and we will thus take passage in a steamer to Cincinnati； and from thence
to Canada。〃
With full confidence in Isabella's judgment； William consented at once
to the proposition。 The clothes were purchased； everything was arranged；
and the next night； while Mr。 Gordon was on one of his sprees； Isabella；
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under the assumed name of Mr。 Smith； with William in attendance as a
servant； took passage for Cincinnati in the steamer Heroine。
With a pair of green glasses over her eyes； in addition to her other
disguise； Isabella made quite a gentlemanly appearance。 To avoid
conversation； however； she kept closely to her state…room； under the plea
of illness。
Meanwhile； William was playing his part well with the servants。 He
was loudly talking of his master's wealth； and nothing on the boat
appeared so good as in his master's fine mansion。
〃I don't like dese steamboats； no how；〃 said he； 〃I hope when massa
goes on anoder journey； he take de carriage and de hosses。〃
After a nine…days' passage； the Heroine landed at Cincinnati； and Mr。
Smith and his servant walked on shore。
〃William； you are now a free man； and can go on to Canada；〃 said
Isabella； 〃I shall go to Virginia； in search of my daughter。〃
This sudden announcement fell heavily upon William's ears； and with
tears he besought her not to jeopardize her liberty in such a manner； but
Isabella had made up her mind to rescue her child if possible。
Taking a boat for Wheeling； Isabella was soon on her way to her native
State。 Several months had elapsed since she left Richmond； and all her
thoughts were centred on the fate of her dear Clotelle。 It was with a
palpitating heart that this injured woman entered the stage…coach at
Wheeling and set out for Richmond。
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CHAPTER XV
THE ARREST
IT was late in the evening when the coach arrived at Richmond； and
Isabella once more alighted in her native city。 She had intended to seek
lodgings somewhere in the outskirts of the town； but the lateness of the
hour compelled her to stop at one of the principal hotels for the night。 She
had scarcely entered the inn before she recognized among the numerous
black servants one to whom she was well known； and her only hope was
that her disguise would keep her from being discovered。 The
imperturbable calm and entire forgetfulness of self which induced Isabella
to visit a place from which she could scarcely hope to escape； to attempt
the rescue of a beloved child； demonstrate that over…willingness of woman
to carry out the promptings of the finer feelings of the heart。 True to
woman's nature； she had risked her own liberty for another's。 She
remained in the hotel during the night； and the next morning； under the
plea of illness； took her breakfast alone。
That day the fugitive slave paid a visit to the suburbs of the town； and
once more beheld the cottage in which she had spent so many happy hours。
It was winter； and the clematis and passion…flower were not there； but
there were the same walks her feet had so often pressed； and the same
trees which had so often shaded her as she passed through the garden at
the back of the house。 Old remembrances rushed upon her memory and
caused her to shed tears freely。 Isabella was now in her native town； and
near her daughter； but how could she communicate with her？ how could
she see her？ To have made herself known would have been a suicidal act；
betrayal would have followed； and she arrested。 Three days passed away；
and still she remained in the hotel at which she had first put up； and yet
she got no tidings of her child。
Unfortunately for Isabella； a disturbance had just broken out among
the slave population in the State of Virginia； and all strangers were treated
with suspicion。
The insurrection to which we now refer was headed by a full…blooded
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negro； who had been born and brought up a slave。 He had heard the
crack of the driver's whip； and seen the warm blood streaming from the
negro's body。 He had witnessed the separation of parents from children；
and was made aware； by too many proofs； that the slave could expect no
justice from the hands of the slave…owner。 The name of this man was Nat
Turner。 He was a preacher amongst the negroes； distinguished for his
eloquence； respected by the whites； loved and venerated by the negroes。
On the discovery of the plan for the outbreak； Turner fled to the swamps；
followed by those who had joined in the insurrection。
Here the revolted negroes numbered some hundreds； and for a time
bade defiance to their oppressors。 The Dismal Swamps cover many
thousand acres of wild land； and a dense forest； with wild animals and
insects such as are unknown in any other part of Virginia。 Here runaway
negroes usually seek a hiding…place； and some have been known to reside
here for years。 The revolters were joined by one of these。 He was a large；
tall； full…blooded negro； with a stern and savage countenance； the marks
on his face showed that he was from one of the barbarous tribes in Africa；
and claimed that country as his native land。 His only covering was a girdle
around his loins； made of skins of wild beasts which he had killed。 His
only token of authority among those that he led was a pair of epaulettes；
made of the tail of a fox； and tied to his shoulder by a cord。 Brought from
the coast of Africa； when only fifteen years of age； to the island of Cuba；
he was smuggled from thence into Virginia。 He had been two years in the
swamps； and considered it his future home。 He had met a negro woman；
who was also a runaway； and； after the fashion of his native land； had gone
through the process of oiling her； as the marriage ceremony。 They had
built a cave on a rising mound in the swamp； and this was their home。
This man's name was Picquilo。 His only weapon was a sword made from a
scythe which he had stolen from a neighboring plantation。 His dress； his
character； his manners； and his mode of fighting were all in keeping with
the early training he had received in the land of his birth。 He moved about
with the activity of a cat； and neither the thickness of the trees nor the
depth of the water could stop him。 He was a bold； turbulent spirit； and；
from motives of revenge； he imbrued his hands in the blood of all the
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whites he could meet。 Hunger； thirst； and loss of sleep； he seemed made to
endure； as if by peculiarity of constitution。 His air was fierce； his step
oblique； his look sanguinary。
Such was the character of one of the negroes in the Southampton
Insurrection。 All negroes were arrested who were found beyond their
master's threshold； and all white strangers were looked upon with
suspicion。
Such was the position in which Isabella found affairs when she
returned to Virginia in search of her child。 Had not the slave…owners been
watchful of strangers； owing to the outbreak； the fugitive could not have
escaped the vigilance of the police； for advertisements announcing her
es
