clotelle(有色女英雄)-第17章
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went in pursuit of an officer。 In the mean time； the owner of the barn sent
for a hammer and nails； and began nailing up the barn…door。
After an hour in search of the man of the law； they returned with an
officer and a warrant。 The Quaker demanded to see the paper； and； after
looking at it for some time； called to his son to go into the house for his
glasses。 It was a long time before Aunt Ruth found the leather case； and
when she did； the glasses wanted wiping before they could be used。
After comfortably adjusting them on his nose； he read the warrant over
leisurely。
〃Come； Mr。 Dugdale； we can't wait all day；〃 said the officer。
〃Well； will thee read it for me？〃 returned the Quaker。
The officer complied； and the man in drab said；
〃Yes； thee may go in； now。 I am inclined to throw no obstacles in the
way of the execution of the law of the land。〃
On approaching the door； the men found some forty or fifty nails in it；
in the way of their progress。
〃Lend me your hammer and a chisel； if you please； Mr。 Dugdale；〃 said
the officer。
〃Please read that paper over again； will thee？〃 asked the Quaker。
The officer once more read the warrant。
〃I see nothing there which says I must furnish thee with tools to open
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my door。 If thee wants a hammer； thee must go elsewhere for it； I tell
thee plainly； thee can't have mine。〃
The implements for opening the door are at length obtained； and； after
another half…hour； the slave…catchers are in the barn。 Three hours is a long
time for a slave to be in the hands of Quakers。 The hay is turned over； and
the barn is visited in every part； but still the runaway is not found。 Uncle
Joseph has a glow upon his countenance； Ephraim shakes his head
knowingly； little Elijah is a perfect know…nothing； and； if you look toward
the house； you will see Aunt Ruth's smiling face； ready to announce that
breakfast is ready。
〃The nigger is not in this barn；〃 said the officer。
〃I know he is not；〃 quietly answered the Quaker。
〃What were you nailing up your door for； then； as if you were afraid
we would enter？〃 inquired one of the kidnappers。
〃I can do what I please with my own door； can't I；〃 said the Quaker。
The secret was out； the fugitive had gone in at the front door and out at
the back； and the reading of the warrant； nailing up of the door； and other
preliminaries of the Quaker； was to give the fugitive time and opportunity
to escape。
It was now late in the morning； and the slave…catchers were a long way
from home； and the horses were jaded by the rapid manner in which they
had travelled。 The Friends； in high glee； returned to the house for
breakfast； the man of the law； after taking his fee； went home； and the
kidnappers turned back； muttering； 〃Better luck next time。〃
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CHAPTER XXI
SELF…SACRIFICE
NOW in her seventeenth year； Clotelle's personal appearance
presented a great contrast to the time when she lived with old Mrs。 Miller。
Her tall and well…developed figure； her long； silky black hair； falling in
curls down her swan…like neck； her bright； black eyes lighting up her
olive…tinted face； and a set of teeth that a Tuscarora might envy； she was a
picture of tropical…ripened beauty。 At times； there was a heavenly smile
upon her countenance； which would have warmed the heart of an
anchorite。 Such was the personal appearance of the girl who was now in
prison by her own act to save the life of another。 Would she be hanged in
his stead； or would she receive a different kind of punishment？ These
questions Clotelle did not ask herself。 Open； frank； free； and generous to a
fault； she always thought of others； never of her own welfare。
The long stay of Clotelle caused some uneasiness to Miss Wilson； yet
she dared not tell her father； for he had forbidden the slave…girl's going to
the prison to see her lover。 While the clock on the church near by was
striking eleven； Georgiana called Sam； and sent him to the prison in search
of Clotelle。
〃The girl went away from here at eight o'clock；〃 was the jailer's
answer to the servant's inquiries。
The return of Sam without having found the girl saddened the heart of
the young mistress。 〃Sure； then；〃 said she； 〃the poor； heartbroken thing
has made way with herself。〃
Still； she waited till morning before breaking the news of Clotelle's
absence to her father。
The jailer discovered； the next morning； to his utter astonishment； that
his prisoner was white instead of black； and his first impression was that
the change of complexion had taken place during the night； through fear of
death。 But this conjecture was soon dissipated； for the dark； glowing
eyes； the sable curls upon the lofty brow； and the mild； sweet voice that
answered his questions； informed him that the prisoner before him was
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another being。
On learning； in the morning； that Clotelle was in jail dressed in male
attire； Miss Wilson immediately sent clothes to her to make a change in
her attire。 News of the heroic and daring act of the slave…girl spread
through the city with electric speed。
〃I will sell every nigger on the place；〃 said the parson； at the breakfast…
table；〃I will sell them all； and get a new lot； and whip them every day。〃
Poor Georgiana wept for the safety of Clotelle； while she felt glad that
Jerome had escaped。 In vain did they try to extort from the girl the
whereabouts of the man whose escape she had effected。 She was not
aware that he had fled on a steamer； and when questioned； she replied；
〃I don't know； and if I did I would not tell you。 I care not what you do
with me； if Jerome but escapes。〃
The smile with which she uttered these words finely illustrated the
poet's meaning； when he says；
〃A fearful gift upon they heart is laid； Womanthe
power to suffer and to love。〃
Her sweet simplicity seemed to dare them to lay their rough hands
amid her trembling curls。
Three days did the heroic young woman remain in prison； to be gazed
at by an unfeeling crowd； drawn there out of curiosity。 The intelligence
came to her at last that the court had decided to spare her life； on condition
that she should be whipped； sold； and sent out of the State within twenty…
four hours。
This order of the court she would have cared but little for； had she not
been sincerely attached to her young mistress。
〃Do try and sell her to some one who will use her well；〃 said
Georgiana to her father； as he was about taking his hat to leave the house。
〃I shall not trouble myself to do any such thing；〃 replied the hard…
hearted parson。 〃I leave the finding of a master for her with the slave…
dealer。〃
Bathed in tears； Miss Wilson paced her room in the absence of her
father。 For many months Georgiana had been in a decline； and any little
trouble would lay her on a sick bed for days。 She was； therefore； poorly
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able to bear the loss of this companion； whom she so dearly loved。
Mr。 Wilson had informed his daughter that Clotelle was to be flogged；
and when Felice came in and informed her mistress that the poor girl had
just received fifty lashes on her bare person； the young lady fainted and
fell on the floor。 The servants placed their mistress on the sofa； and went
in pursuit of their master。 Little did the preacher think； on returning to his
daughter； that he should soon be bereft of her； yet such was to be his lot。 A
blood…vessel had been ruptured； and the three physicians who were called
in told the father that he must prepare to lose his child。 That moral courage
and calmness； which was her great characteristic； did not forsake
Georgiana in her hour of death。 She had ever been kind to the slaves
under her charge； and they loved and respected her。 At her request； the
servants were all brought into her room； and took a last farewell of their
mistress。 Seldom； if ever； was there witnessed a more touching scene
than this。 There lay the young woman； pale and feeble； with death stamped
upon her countenance； surrounded by the sons and daughters of Africa；
some of whom had been separated from every earthly tie； and the most of
whose persons had been torn and gashed by the negro…whip。 Some were
upon their knees at the bedside； others standing around； and all weeping。
Death is a leveler； and neither age； sex； wealth； nor condition； can
avert when he is permitted to strike。 The most beautiful flowers must
soon fade and droop and die。 So； also； with man； his days are as
uncertain as the passing breeze。 This hour he glows in the blush of
health and vigor； but the next； he may be counted with the number no
more known on earth。 Oh； what a silence pervaded the house when this
young flower was gone！ In the midst of the buoyancy of youth； this
cherished one had dropped and died。 Deep were the sounds of grief and
mourning heard in that stately dwelling when the stricken friends； whose
office it had been to nurse and soothe the weary sufferer； beheld her pale
and motionless in the sleep of death。
Who can imagine the feeling with which poor Clotelle received the
intelligence of her kind friend's death？ The deep gashes of the cruel
whip had pros
