roads of destiny-第35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！


〃'Mary　is　a　real　tropical　bird；'　says　Jones。　'He's　turned　out　the　infantry　to　help　us　to　honour　to　the　Fourth。　We'll　get　that　cannon　he　spoke　of　after　a　while　and　fire　some　window…breakers　with　it。　But　just　now　I　want　some　of　that　barbecued　beef。　Let　us　on　to　the　plaza。'

〃There　we　found　the　meat　gloriously　done；　and　Jerry　waiting；　anxious。　We　sat　around　on　the　grass；　and　got　hunks　of　it　on　our　tin　plates。　Maximilian　Jones；　always　made　tender…hearted　by　drink；　cried　some　because　George　Washington　couldn't　be　there　to　enjoy　the　day。　'There　was　a　man　I　love；　Billy；'　he　says；　weeping　on　my　shoulder。　'Poor　George！　To　think　he's　gone；　and　missed　the　fireworks。　A　little　more　salt；　please；　Jerry。'

〃From　what　we　could　hear；　General　Dingo　seemed　to　be　kindly　contributing　some　noise　while　we　feasted。　There　were　guns　going　off　around　town；　and　pretty　soon　we　heard　that　cannon　go　'BOOM！'　just　as　he　said　it　would。　And　then　men　began　to　skin　along　the　edge　of　the　plaza；　dodging　in　among　the　orange　trees　and　houses。　We　certainly　had　things　stirred　up　in　Salvador。　We　felt　proud　of　the　occasion　and　grateful　to　General　Dingo。　Sterrett　was　about　to　take　a　bite　off　a　juicy　piece　of　rib　when　a　bullet　took　it　away　from　his　mouth。

〃'Somebody's　celebrating　with　ball　cartridges；'　says　he；　reaching　for　another　piece。　'Little　over…zealous　for　a　non…resident　patriot；　isn't　it？'

〃'Don't　mind　it；'　I　says　to　him。　''Twas　an　accident。　They　happen；　you　know；　on　the　Fourth。　After　one　reading　of　the　Declaration　of　Independence　in　New　York　I've　known　the　S。R。O。　sign　to　be　hung　out　at　all　the　hospitals　and　police　stations。'

〃But　then　Jerry　gives　a　howl　and　jumps　up　with　one　hand　clapped　to　the　back　of　his　leg　where　another　bullet　has　acted　over…zealous。　And　then　comes　a　quantity　of　yells；　and　round　a　corner　and　across　the　plaza　gallops　General　Mary　Esperanza　Dingo　embracing　the　neck　of　his　horse；　with　his　men　running　behind　him；　mostly　dropping　their　guns　by　way　of　discharging　ballast。　And　chasing　'em　all　is　a　company　of　feverish　little　warriors　wearing　blue　trousers　and　caps。

〃'Assistance；　amigos；'　the　General　shouts；　trying　to　stop　his　horse。　'Assistance；　in　the　name　of　Liberty！'

〃'That's　the　Campania　Azul；　the　President's　bodyguard；'　says　Jones。　'What　a　shame！　They've　jumped　on　poor　old　Mary　just　because　he　was　helping　us　to　celebrate。　Come　on；　boys；　it's　our　Fourth；do　we　let　that　little　squad　of　A。D。T's　break　it　up？'

〃'I　vote　No；'　says　Martin　Dillard；　gathering　his　Winchester。　'It's　the　privilege　of　an　American　citizen　to　drink；　drill；　dress　up；　and　be　dreadful　on　the　Fourth　of　July；　no　matter　whose　country　he's　in。'

〃'Fellow　citizens！'　says　old　man　Billfinger；　'In　the　darkest　hour　of　Freedom's　birth；　when　our　brave　forefathers　promulgated　the　principles　of　undying　liberty；　they　never　expected　that　a　bunch　of　blue　jays　like　that　should　be　allowed　to　bust　up　an　anniversary。　Let　us　preserve　and　protect　the　Constitution。'

〃We　made　it　unanimous；　and　then　we　gathered　our　guns　and　assaulted　the　blue　troops　in　force。　We　fired　over　their　heads；　and　then　charged　'em　with　a　yell；　and　they　broke　and　ran。　We　were　irritated　at　having　our　barbecue　disturbed；　and　we　chased　'em　a　quarter　of　a　mile。　Some　of　'em　we　caught　and　kicked　hard。　The　General　rallied　his　troops　and　joined　in　the　chase。　Finally　they　scattered　in　a　thick　banana　grove；　and　we　couldn't　flush　a　single　one。　So　we　sat　down　and　rested。

〃If　I　were　to　be　put；　severe；　through　the　third　degree；　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　tell　much　about　the　rest　of　the　day。　I　mind　that　we　pervaded　the　town　considerable；　calling　upon　the　people　to　bring　out　more　armies　for　us　to　destroy。　I　remember　seeing　a　crowd　somewhere；　and　a　tall　man　that　wasn't　Billfinger　making　a　Fourth　of　July　speech　from　a　balcony。　And　that　was　about　all。

〃Somebody　must　have　hauled　the　old　ice　factory　up　to　where　I　was；　and　put　it　around　me；　for　there's　where　I　was　when　I　woke　up　the　next　morning。　As　soon　as　I　could　recollect　by　name　and　address　I　got　up　and　held　an　inquest。　My　last　cent　was　gone。　I　was　all　in。

〃And　then　a　neat　black　carriage　drives　to　the　door；　and　out　steps　General　Dingo　and　a　bay　man　in　a　silk　hat　and　tan　shoes。

〃'Yes；'　says　I　to　myself；　'I　see　it　now。　You're　the　Chief　de　Policeos　and　High　Lord　Chamberlain　of　the　Calaboosum；　and　you　want　Billy　Casparis　for　excess　of　patriotism　and　assault　with　intent。　All　right。　Might　as　well　be　in　jail；　anyhow。'

〃But　it　seems　that　General　Mary　is　smiling；　and　the　bay　man　shakes　my　hand；　and　speaks　in　the　American　dialect。

〃'General　Dingo　has　informed　me；　Senor　Casparis；　of　your　gallant　service　in　our　cause。　I　desire　to　thank　you　with　my　person。　The　bravery　of　you　and　the　other　senores　Americanos　turned　the　struggle　for　liberty　in　our　favour。　Our　party　triumphed。　The　terrible　battle　will　live　forever　in　history。

〃'Battle？'　says　I；　'what　battle？'　and　I　ran　my　mind　back　along　history；　trying　to　think。

〃'Senor　Casparis　is　modest；'　says　General　Dingo。　'He　led　his　brave　compadres　into　the　thickest　of　the　fearful　conflict。　Yes。　Without　their　aid　the　revolution　would　have　failed。'

〃'Why；　now；'　says　I；　'don't　tell　me　there　was　a　revolution　yesterday。　That　was　only　a　Fourth　of'

〃But　right　there　I　abbreviated。　It　seemed　to　me　it　might　be　best。

〃'After　the　terrible　struggle；'　says　the　bay　man；　'President　Bolano　was　forced　to　fly。　To…day　Caballo　is　President　by　proclamation。　Ah；　yes。　Beneath　the　new　administration　I　am　the　head　of　the　Department　of　Mercantile　Concessions。　On　my　file　I　find　one　report；　Senor　Casparis；　that　you　have　not　made　ice　in　accord　with　your　contract。'　And　here　the　bay　man　smiles　at　me；　'cute。

〃'Oh；　well；'　says　I；　'I　guess　the　report's　straight。　I　know　they　caught　me。　That's　all　there　is　to　it。'

〃'Do　not　say　so；'　says　the　bay　man。　He　pulls　off　a　glove　and　goes　over　and　lays　his　hand　on　that　chunk　of　glass。

〃'Ice；'　says　he；　nodding　his　head；　solemn。

〃General　Dingo　also　steps　over　and　feels　of　it。

〃'Ice；'　says　the　General；　'I'll　swear　to　it。'

〃'If　Senor　Casparis；'　says　the　bay　man；　'will　present　himself　to　the　treasury　on　the　sixth　day　of　this　month　he　will　receive　back　the　thousand　dollars　he　did　deposit　as　a　forfeit。　Adios；　senor。'

〃The　General　and　the　bay　man　bowed　themselves　out；　and　I　bowed　as　often　as　they　did。

〃And　when　the　carriage　rolls　away　through　the　sand　I　bows　once　more；　deeper　than　ever；　till　my　hat　touches　the　ground。　But　this　time　'twas　not　intended　for　them。　For；　over　their　heads；　I　saw　the　old　flag　fluttering　in　the　breeze　above　the　consul's　roof；　and　'twas　to　it　I　made　my　profoundest　salute。〃



XIV

THE　EMANCIPATION　OF　BILLY

In　the　old；　old；　square…porticoed　mansion；　with　the　wry　window…　shutters　and　the　paint　peeling　off　in　discoloured　flakes；　lived　one　of　the　last　war　governors。

The　South　has　forgotten　the　enmity　of　the　great　conflict；　but　it　refuses　to　abandon　its　old　traditions　and　idols。　In　〃Governor〃　Pemberton；　as　he　was　still　fondly　called；　the　inhabitants　of　Elmville　saw　the　relic　of　their　state's　ancient　greatness　and　glory。　In　his　day　he　had　been　a　man　large　in　the　eye　of　his　country。　His　state　had　pressed　upon　him　every　honour　within　its　gift。　And　now　when　he　was　old；　and　enjoying　a　richly　merited　repose　outside　the　swift　current　of　public　affairs；　his　townsmen　loved　to　do　him　reverence　for　the　sake　of　the　past。

The　Governor's　decaying　〃mansion〃　stood　upon　the　main　street　of　Elmville　within　a　few　feet　of　its　rickety　paling…fence。　Every　morning　the　Governor　would　descend　the　steps　with　extreme　care　and　deliberationon　account　of　his　rheumatismand　then　the　click　of　his　gold…headed　cane　would　be　heard　as　he　slowly　proceeded　up　the　rugged　brick　sidewalk。　He　was　now　nearly　seventy…eight；　but　he　had　grown　old　gracefully　and　beautifully。　His　rather　long；　smooth　hair　and　flowing；　parted　whiskers　were　snow…white。　His　full…skirted　frock…croak　was　always　buttoned　snugly　about　his　tall；　spare　figure。　He　wore　a　high；　well…kept　silk　hatknown　as　a　〃plug〃　in　Elmvilleand　nearly　always　gloves。　His　manners　were　punctilious；　and　somewhat　overcharged　with　courtesy。

The　Governor's　walks　up　Lee　Avenue；　the　principal　street；　developed　in　their　course　into　a　sort　of　memorial；　triumphant　procession。　Everyone　he　met　saluted　him　with　profound　respect。　Many　would　remove　their　hats。　Those　who　were　honoured　with　his　personal　friendship　would　pause　to　shake　hands；　and　then　you　would　see　exemplified　the　genuine　/beau　ideal/　Southern　courtesy。

Upon　reaching　the　corner　of　the　second　square　from　the　mansion；　the　Governor　would　pause。　Another　street　crossed　the　venue　there；　and　traffic；　to　the　extent　of　several　farmers'　wagons　and　a　peddler's　cart　or　two；　would　rage　about　the　junction。　Then　the　falcon　eye　of　General　Deffenbaugh　would　perceive　the　situation；　and　the　General　would　hasten；　with　ponderous　solicitude；　from　his　office　in　the　First　National　Bank　building　to　the　assistance　of　his　old　friend。

When　the　two　exchanged　greetings　the　decay　of　modern　manners　would　become　accusingly　apparent。　The　General's　bulky　and　commanding　figure　would　bend　lissomely　at　a　point　where　you　would　have　regarded　its　ability　to　do　so　with　incredulity。　The　Governor　would　take　the　General's　arm　and　be　piloted　safely　between　the　ha