clotelle(有色女英雄)-第15章
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〃No； sir；〃 replied Jerome； as his master told him to take off his coat： 〃I
will serve you； Master Wilson； I will labor for you day and night； if you
demand it； but I will not be whipped。〃
This was too much for a white man to stand from a negro； and the
preacher seized his slave by the throat； intending to choke him。 But for
once he found his match。 Jerome knocked him down； and then escaped
through the back…yard to the street； and from thence to the woods。
Recovering somewhat from the effect of his fall； the parson regained
his feet and started in pursuit of the fugitive。 Finding； however； that the
slave was beyond his reach； he at once resolved to put the dogs on his
track。 Tabor； the negro…catcher； was sent for； and in less than an hour；
eight or ten men； including the parson； were in the woods with hounds；
trying the trails。 These dogs will attack a negro at their master's bidding；
and cling to him as the bull…dog will cling to a beast。 Many are the
speculations as to whether the negro will be secured alive or dead； when
these dogs once get on his track。 Whenever there is to be a negro hunt；
there is no lack of participants。 Many go to enjoy the fun which it is said
they derive from these scenes。
The company had been in the woods but a short time ere they go on
the track of two fugitives； once of whom was Jerome。 The slaves
immediately bent their steps toward the swamp； with the hope that the
dogs； when put upon their scent would be unable to follow them through
the water。
The slaves then took a straight course for the Baton Rouge and Bayou
Sara road； about four miles distant。 Nearer and nearer the whimpering
pack pressed； their delusion begins to dispel。 All at once the truth flashes
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upon the minds of the fugitives like a glare of light；'tis Tabor with his
dogs！
The scent becomes warmer and warmer； and what was at first an
irregular cry now deepens into one ceaseless roar； as the relentless pack
presses on after its human prey。
They at last reach the river； and in the negroes plunge； followed by the
catch…dog。 Jerome is caught and is once more in the hands of his master；
while the other poor fellow finds a watery grave。 They return； and the
preacher sends his slave to jail。
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CHAPTER XIX
THE TRUE HEROINE
IN vain did Georgiana try to console Clotelle； when the latter heard；
through one of the other slaves； that Mr。 Wilson had started with the dogs
in pursuit of Jerome。 The poor girl well knew that he would be caught；
and that severe punishment； if not death； would be the result of his capture。
It was therefore with a heart filled with the deepest grief that the slave…girl
heard the footsteps of her master on his return from the chase。 The dogged
and stern manner of the preacher forbade even his daughter inquiring as to
the success of his pursuit。 Georgiana secretly hoped that the fugitive had
not bee caught； she wished it for the sake of the slave； and more especially
for her maid…servant； whom she regarded more as a companion than a
menial。 But the news of the capture of Jerome soon spread through the
parson's household； and found its way to the ears of the weeping and
heart…stricken Clotelle。
The reverend gentleman had not been home more than an hour ere
some of his parishioners called to know if they should not take the negro
from the prison and execute *Lynch law* upon him。
〃No negro should be permitted to live after striking a white man； let us
take him and hang him at once；〃 remarked an elderly…looking man； whose
gray hairs thinly covered the crown of his head。
〃I think the deacon is right；〃 said another of the company； 〃if our
slaves are allowed to set the will of their masters at defiance； there will be
no getting along with them； an insurrection will be the next thing we
hear of。〃
〃No； no；〃 said the preacher； 〃I am willing to let the law take its course；
as it provides for the punishment of a slave with death if he strikes his
master。 We had better let the court decide the question。 Moreover； as a
Christian and God…fearing people； we ought to submit to the dictates of
justice。 Should we take this man's life by force； an Allwise Providence
would hold us responsible for the act。〃
The company then quietly withdrew； showing that the preacher had
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some influence with his people。
〃This；〃 said Mr。 Wilson； when left alone with his daughter； 〃this； my
dear Georgiana； is the result of your kindness to the negroes。 You have
spoiled every one about the house。 I can't whip one of them； without being
in danger of having my life taken。〃
〃I am sure； papa；〃 replied the young lady；〃I am sure I never did any
thing intentionally to induce any of the servants to disobey your orders。〃
〃No； my dear；〃 said Mr。 Wilson； 〃but you are too kind to them。 Now；
there is Clotelle；that girl is completely spoiled。 She walks about the
house with as dignified an air as if she was mistress of the premises。 By
and by you will be sorry for this foolishness of yours。〃
〃But；〃 answered Georgiana； 〃Clotelle has a superior mind； and God
intended her to hold a higher position in life than that of a servant。〃
〃Yes； my dear； and it was your letting her know that she was intended
for a better station in society that is spoiling her。 Always keep a negro in
ignorance of what you conceive to be his abilities；〃 returned the parson。
It was late on the Saturday afternoon； following the capture of Jerome
that； while Mr。 Wilson was seated in his study preparing his sermon for the
next day； Georgiana entered the room and asked in an excited tone if it
were true that Jerome was to hanged on the following Thursday。
The minister informed her that such was the decision of the court。
〃Then；〃 said she； 〃Clotelle will die of grief。〃
〃What business has she to die of grief？〃 returned the father； his eyes at
the moment flashing fire。
〃She has neither eaten nor slept since he was captured；〃 replied
Georgiana； 〃and I am certain that she will not live through this。〃
〃I cannot be disturbed now；〃 said the parson； 〃I must get my sermon
ready for to…morrow。 I expect to have some strangers to preach to； and
must； therefore； prepare a sermon that will do me credit。〃
While the man of God spoke； he seemed to say to himself；
〃With devotion's visage； and pious actions； We do sugar
over the devil himself。〃
Georgiana did all in her power to soothe the feelings of Clotelle； and to
induce her to put her trust in God。 Unknown to her father； she allowed the
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poor girl to go every evening to the jail to see Jerome； and during these
visits； despite her own grief； Clotelle would try to comfort her lover with
the hope that justice would be meted out to him in the spirit…land。
Thus the time passed on； and the day was fast approaching when the
slave was to die。 Having heard that some secret meeting had been held
by the negroes； previous to the attempt of Mr。 Wilson to flog his slave； it
occurred to a magistrate that Jerome might know something of the
intended revolt。 He accordingly visited the prison to see if he could learn
anything from him； but all to no purpose。 Having given up all hopes of
escape； Jerome had resolved to die like a brave man。 When questioned as
to whether he knew anything of a conspiracy among the slaves against
their masters； he replied；
〃Do you suppose that I would tell you if I did？〃
〃But if you know anything；〃 remarked the magistrate； 〃and will tell us；
you may possibly have your life spared。〃
〃Life；〃 answered the doomed man； 〃is worth nought to a slave。 What
right has a slave to himself； his wife； or his children？ We are kept in
heathenish darkness； by laws especially enacted to make our instruction a
criminal offence； and our bones； sinews； blood； and nerves are exposed in
the market for sale。
〃My liberty is of as much consequence to me as Mr。 Wilson's is to him。
I am as sensitive to feeling as he。 If I mistake not； the day will come
when the negro will learn that he can get his freedom by fighting for it；
and should that time arrive； the whites will be sorry that they have hated
us so shamefully。 I am free to say that； could I live my life over again； I
would use all the energies which God has given me to get up an
insurrection。〃
Every one present seemed startled and amazed at the intelligence with
which this descendant of Africa spoke。
〃He's a very dangerous man；〃 remarked one。
〃Yes；〃 said another； 〃he got some book…learning somewhere； and that
has spoiled him。〃
An effort was then made to learn from Jerome where he had learned to
read； but the black refused to give any information on the subject。
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The sun was just going down behind the trees as Clotelle entered the
prison to see Jerome for the last time。 He was to die on the next day。 Her
face was bent upon her hands； and the gushing tears were forcing their
way through her fingers。 With beating heart and trembling hands； evincing
the deepest emotion； she threw her arms around her lover's neck and
embraced him。 But； prompted by her heart's unchanging love； she had in
her own mind a plan by which she hoped to
