clotelle(有色女英雄)-第26节
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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 work。 With such a
prospect of future happiness in view； this injured descendent of outraged
and bleeding Africa went daily to his toil with an energy hitherto unknown
to him。 But oh； how vain are the hopes of man！
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CHAPTER XXVIII
FAREWELL TO AMERICA
THREE months had elapsed； from the time the fugitive commenced
work for Mr。 Streeter； when that gentleman returned from his Southern
research； and informed Jerome that Parson Wilson had sold Clotelle； and
that she had been sent to the New Orleans slave…market。
This intelligence fell with crushing weight upon the heart of Jerome；
and he now felt that the last chain which bound him to his native land was
severed。 He therefore determined to leave America forever。 His nearest
and dearest friends had often been flogged in his very presence； and he
had seen his mother sold to the negro…trader。 An only sister had been torn
from him by the soul…driver； he had himself been sold and resold； and
been compelled to submit to the most degrading and humiliating insults；
and now that the woman upon whom his heart doted； and without whom
life was a burden； had been taken away forever； he felt it a duty to hate all
mankind。
If there is one thing more than another calculated to make one hate and
detest American slavery； it is to witness the meetings between fugitives
and their friends in Canada。 Jerome had beheld some of these scenes。
The wife who； after years of separation； had escaped from her prison…
house and followed her husband had told her story to him。 He had seen the
newly…arrived wife rush into the arms of the husband； whose dark face she
had not looked upon for long； weary years。 Some told of how a sister had
been ill…used by the overseer； others of a husband's being whipped to
death for having attempted to protect his wife。 He had sat in the little log…
hut； by the fireside； and heard tales that caused his heart to bleed； and his
bosom swelled with just indignation when he though that there was no
remedy for such atrocious acts。 It was with such feelings that he informed
his employer that he should leave him at the expiration of a month。
In vain did Mr。 Streeter try to persuade Jerome to remain with him；
and late in the month of February； the latter found himself on board a
small vessel loaded with pine…lumber； descending the St。 Lawrence； bound
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for Liverpool。 The bark； though an old one； was； nevertheless； considered
