clotelle(有色女英雄)-第19节
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CLOTELLE
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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CLOTELLE
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 effect the escape of him to
whom she had pledged her heart and hand。 While the overcharged clouds
which had hung over the city during the day broke； and the rain fell in
torrents； amid the most terrific thunder and lightning； Clotelle revealed to
Jerome her plan for his escape。
〃Dress yourself in my clothes；〃 said she； 〃and you can easily pass the
jailer。〃
This Jerome at first declined doing。 He did not wish to place a
confiding girl in a position where； in all probability； she would have to
suffer； but being assured by the young girl that her life would not be in
danger； he resolved to make the attempt。 Clotelle being very tall； it was
not probably that the jailer would discover any difference in them。
At this moment； she took from her pocket a bunch of keys and
unfastened the padlock； and freed him from the floor。
〃Come； girl； it is time for you to go；〃 said the jailer； as Jerome was
holding the almost fainting girl by the hand。
Being already attired in Clotelle's clothes； the disguised man embraced
the weeping girl； put his handkerchief to his face； and passed out of the jail；
without the keeper's knowing that his prisoner was escaping in a disguise
and under cover of the night。
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CLOTELLE
CHAPTER XX
THE HERO OF MANY ADVENTURES
JEROME had scarcely passed the prison…gates； ere he reproached
himself for having taken such a step。 There seemed to him no hope of
escape out of the State； and what was a few hours or days at most； of life
to him； when； by obtaining it； another had been sacrificed。 He was on the
eve of returning； when he thought of the last words uttered by Clotelle。
〃Be brave and determined； and you will still be free。〃 The words sounded
like a charm in his ears and he went boldly forward。
Clotelle had provided a suit of men's clothes and had placed them
where her lover could get them； if he should succeed in getting out。
Returning to Mr。 Wilson's barn； the fugitive changed his apparel； and
again retraced his steps into the street。 To reach the Free States by
travelling by night and lying by during the day； from a State so far south as
Mississippi； no one would think for a moment of attempting to escape。 To
remain in the city would be a suicidal step。 The deep sound of the escape
of steam from a boat； which was at that moment ascending the river； broke
upon the ears of the slave。 〃If that boat is going up the river；〃 said he；
〃why not I conceal myself on board； and try to escape？〃 He went at once
to the steamboat landing； where the boat was just coming in。 〃Bound for
Louisville；〃 said the captain； to one who was making inquiries。 As the
passengers were rushing on board； Jerome followed them； and proceeding
to where some of the hands were stowing away bales of goods； he took
hold and aided them。
〃Jump down into the hold； there； and help the men；〃 said the mate to
the fugitive； supposing that； like many persons； he was working his way
up the river。 Once in the hull among the boxes； the slave concealed
himself。 Weary hours； and at last days； passed without either water or
food with the hidden slave。 More than once did he resolve to let his case
be known； but the knowledge that he would be sent back to Natchez kept
him from doing so。 At last； with lips parched and fevered to a crisp； the
poor man crawled out into the freight…room； and began wandering about。
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CLOTELLE
The hatches were on； and the room dark。 There happened to be on board
a wedding party； and a box； containing some ofthe bridal cake； with
several bottles of port wine； was near Jerome。 He found the box； opened it；
and helped himself。 In eight days； the boat tied up at the wharf at the
place of her destination。 It was late at night； the boat's crew； with the
single exception of the man on watch； were on shore。 The hatches were
off； and the fugitive quietly made his way on deck and jumped on shore。
The man saw the fugitive； but too late to seize him。
Still in a Slave State； Jerome was at a loss to know how he should
proceed。 He had with him a few dollars； enough to pay his way to
Canada； if he could find a conveyance。 The fugitive procured such food as
he wanted from one of the many eating…houses； and then； following the
direction of the North Star； he passed out of the city； and took the road
leading to Covington。 Keeping near the Ohio River； Jerome soon found an
opportunity to cross over into the State of Indiana。 But liberty was a
mere name in the latter State； and the fugitive learned； from some colored
persons that he met； that it was not safe to travel by daylight。 While
making his way one night； with nothing to cheer him but the prospect of
freedom in the future； he was pounced upon by three men who were lying
in wait for another fugitive； an advertisement of whom they had received
through the mail。 In vain did Jerome tell them that he was not a slave。 True；
they had not caught the man they expected； but； if they could make this
