clotelle(有色女英雄)-第18节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to her father； Miss Wilson could permit these two slaves to enjoy more
privileges than any of the other servants。 The young mistress taught
Clotelle； and the latter imparted her instructions to her lover； until both
66
… Page 67…
CLOTELLE
could read so as to be well understood。 Jerome felt his superiority； and
always declared that no master should ever flog him。 Aware of his high
spirit and determination； Clotelle was in constant fear lest some difficulty
might arise between her lover and his master。
One day Mr。 Wilson； being somewhat out of temper and irritated at
what he was pleased to call Jerome's insolence； ordered him to follow him
to the barn to be flogged。 The young slave obeyed his master； but those
who saw him at the moment felt that he would not submit to be whipped。
〃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
67
… Page 68…
CLOTELLE
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。
68
… Page 69…
CLOTELLE
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
69
… Page 70…
CLOTELLE
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
70
… Page 71…
CLOTELLE
poor girl to g
