clotelle(有色女英雄)-第21章
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music to the ear； and brought gladness to the heart of every one on board。
At last； the long suspense was broken by the appearance of land； at which
all hearts leaped for joy。 It was a beautiful morning in October。 The sun
had just risen； and sky and earth were still bathed in his soft； rosy glow；
when the Utica hauled into the dock at Bordeaux。 The splendid streets；
beautiful bridges； glittering equipages； and smiling countenances of the
people； gave everything a happy appearance； after a voyage of twenty…nine
days on the deep； deep sea。
After getting their baggage cleared from the custom…house and going
to a hotel； Devenant made immediate arrangements for the marriage。
Clotelle； on arriving at the church where the ceremony was to take place；
was completely overwhelmed at the spectacle。 She had never beheld a
scene so gorgeous as this。 The magnificent dresses of the priests and
choristers； the deep and solemn voices； the elevated crucifix； the burning
tapers； the splendidly decorated altar； the sweet…smelling incense； made
the occasion truly an imposing one。 At the conclusion of the ceremony； the
loud and solemn peals of the organ's swelling anthem were lost to all in
the contemplation of the interesting scene。
The happy couple set out at once for Dunkirk； the residence of the
bridegroom's parents。 But their stay there was short； for they had
scarcely commenced visiting the numerous friends of the husband ere
orders came for him to proceed to India to join that portion of the French
army then stationed there。
In due course of time they left for India； passing through Paris and
Lyons； taking ship at Marseilles。 In the metropolis of France； they spent
a week； where the husband took delight in introducing his wife to his
brother officers in the French army； and where the newly…married couple
were introduced to Louis Philippe； then King of France。 In all of these
positions； Clotelle sustained herself in a most ladylike manner。
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At Lyons； they visited the vast factories and other public works； and
all was pleasure with them。 The voyage from Marseilles to Calcutta was
very pleasant； as the weather was exceedingly fine。 On arriving in India；
Captain Devenant and lady were received with honorsthe former for his
heroic bravery in more than one battle； and the latter for her fascinating
beauty and pleasing manners； and the fact that she was connected with one
who was a general favorite with all who had his acquaintance。 This was
indeed a great change for Clotelle。 Six months had not elapsed since her
exposure in the slave…market of New Orleans。 This life is a stage； and we
are indeed all actors。
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CLOTELLE
CHAPTER XXVI
THE HERO OF A NIGHT
MOUNTED on a fast horse； with the Quaker's son for a guide；
Jerome pressed forward while Uncle Joseph was detaining the slave…
catchers at the barn…door； through which the fugitive had just escaped。
When out of present danger； fearing that suspicion might be aroused if he
continued on the road in open day； Jerome buried himself in a thick； dark
forest until nightfall。 With a yearning heart； he saw the splendor of the
setting sun lingering on the hills； as if loath to fade away and be lost in the
more sombre hues of twilight； which； rising from the east； was slowly
stealing over the expanse of heaven； bearing silence and repose； which
should cover his flight from a neighborhood to him so full of dangers。
Wearily and alone； with nothing but the hope of safety before him to
cheer him on his way； the poor fugitive urged his tired and trembling limbs
forward for several nights。 The new suit of clothes with which he had
provided himself when he made his escape from his captors； and the
twenty dollars which the young Quaker had slipped into his hand； when
bidding him 〃Fare thee well；〃 would enable him to appear genteelly as
soon as he dared to travel by daylight； and would thus facilitate his
progress toward freedom。
It was late in the evening when the fugitive slave arrived at a small
town on the banks of Lake Erie； where he was to remain over night。 How
strange were his feelings！ While his heart throbbed for that freedom and
safety which Canada alone could furnish to the whip…scarred slave； on the
American continent； his thoughts were with Clotelle。 Was she still in
prison； and if so； what would be her punishment for aiding him to escape
from prison？ Would he ever behold her again？ These were the thoughts
that followed him to his pillow； haunted him in his dreams； and awakened
him from his slumbers。
The alarm of fire aroused the inmates of the hotel in which Jerome had
sought shelter for the night from the deep sleep into which they had fallen。
The whole village was buried in slumber； and the building was half
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consumed before the frightened inhabitants had reached the scene of the
conflagration。 The wind was high； and the burning embers were wafted
like so many rockets through the sky。 The whole town was lighted up；
and the cries of women and children in the streets made the scene a terrific
one。 Jerome heard the alarm； and hastily dressing himself； he went forth
and hastened toward the burning building。
〃There；there in that room in the second story； is my child！〃
exclaimed a woman； wringing her hands； and imploring some one to go to
the rescue of her little one。
The broad sheets of fire were flying in the direction of the chamber in
which the child was sleeping； and all hope of its being saved seemed gone。
Occasionally the wind would life the pall of smoke； and show that the
work of destruction was not yet complete。 At last a long ladder was
brought； and one end placed under the window of the room。 A moment
more and a bystander mounted the ladder and ascended in haste to the
window。 The smoke met him as he raised the sash； and he cried out； 〃All is
lost！〃 and returned to the ground without entering the room。
Another sweep of the wind showed that the destroying element had not
yet made its final visit to that part of the doomed building。 The mother；
seeing that all hope of again meeting her child in this world was gone；
wrung her hands and seemed inconsolable with grief。
At this juncture； a man was seen to mount the ladder； and ascend with
great rapidity。 All eyes were instantly turned to the figure of this
unknown individual as it disappeared in the cloud of smoke escaping from
the window。 Those who a moment before had been removing furniture； as
well as the idlers who had congregated at the ringing of the bells；
assembled at the foot of the ladder； and awaited with breathless silence the
reappearance of the stranger； who； regardless of his own safety； had thus
risked his life to save another's。 Three cheers broke the stillness that had
fallen on the company； as the brave man was seen coming through the
window and slowly descending to the ground holding under one arm the
inanimate form of the child。 Another cheer and then another； made the
welkin ring； as the stranger； with hair burned and eyebrows closely singed；
fainted at the foot of the ladder。 But the child was saved。
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The stranger was Jerome。 As soon as he revived； he shrunk from
every eye； as if he feared they would take from him the freedom which he
had gone through so much to obtain。
The next day； the fugitive took a vessel； and the following morning
found himself standing on the free soil of Canada。 As his foot pressed the
shore； he threw himself upon his face； kissed the earth； and exclaimed； 〃O
God！ I thank thee that I am a free man。〃
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CHAPTER XXVII
TRUE FREEDOM
THE history of the African race is God's illuminated clock； set in the
dark steeple of time。 The negro has been made the hewer of wood and
the drawer of water for nearly all other nations。 The people of the United
States； however； will have an account to settle with God； owing to their
treatment of the negro； which will far surpass the rest of mankind。
Jerome； on reaching Canada； felt for the first time that personal
freedom which God intended that all who bore his image should enjoy。
That same forgetfulness of self which had always characterized him now
caused him to think of others。 The thoughts of dear ones in slavery were
continually in his mind； and above all others； Clotelle occupied his
thoughts。 Now that he was free； he could better appreciate her condition as
a slave。 Although Jerome met； on his arrival in Canada； numbers who
had escaped from the Southern States； he nevertheless shrank from all
society； particularly that of females。 The soft； silver…gray tints on the
leaves of the trees； with their snow…spotted trunks； and a biting air； warned
the new…born freeman that he was in another climate。 Jerome sought work；
and soon found it； and arranged with his employer that the latter should go
to Natchez in search of Clotelle。 The good Scotchman； for whom the
fugitive was laboring； freely offered to go down and purchase the girl； if
she could be bought； and let Jerome pay him in
