第 35 节
作者:人生几何      更新:2021-02-19 17:02      字数:9318
  including   the   tunnel   workers;   whose   irons   were   taken   off;   made   their
  escape;     allowing    the   faithful   negro    to  accompany      them。    Nothing     was
  known of the exit of the men till breakfast hour on the next morning。                     On
  examination       of   the  store…room;     it  was   found;    that;  in  addition    to  the
  whiskey Pete had taken a large supply of stores for the accommodation of
  the   party。  Added   to   this;   a   good   number   of   arms   with   ammunition   had
  been furnished the men by the African。
  The     rebels   were    not   prepared     to  successfully     pursue     the  fleeing
  prisoners; although armed men were sent in different directions。 Nothing;
  however;      was    heard   of  them    till  they  reached     the  Union     lines。  Long
  suspected of too freely aiding Union prisoners; Clotelle was now openly
  charged with a knowledge of the escape of these men; and was compelled
  to leave Andersonville。
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  CHAPTER XXXIX
  CONCLUSION
  THE fiendish and heartless conduct of a large number of the people
  of   the  South    towards    Union   men    during   the  war;   and   especially   the
  unlady…like demeanor of rebel women at New Orleans and other points; is
  a matter that has passed into history。 In few places were the women more
  abusive     to  those  of  Union    proclivities  than   the  female   portion   of  the
  inhabitants of Greenville; Alabama。          While passing through this town; on
  her return from Andersonville to New Orleans; Clotelle had to encounter
  the fierce ill…treatment of these chivalrous daughters of the South。             There
  were; during the rebellion; many brave and generous women; who; in the
  mountains and lowlands   of Alabama;   gave   aid to   Federals;soldiers   and
  civilians; in their wanderings and escape from the cruelties of the traitors。
  One of these patriotic women was arrested while on a visit to Greenville
  for the purpose of procuring medicine and other necessaries for sick Union
  men     then  hid   away   in  the  woods。    This   large…hearted    womanEunice
  Hastingshad   her   horse   taken   from   her;   robbed   of   the   goods   she   had
  purchased; and; after experiencing almost death at the hands of the rebel
  women; was released and turned out penniless; and without the means of
  reaching her home in the country; when Clotelle; who had just arrived at
  the dilapidated and poorly kept hotel; met her; and; learning the particulars
  of her case; offered assistance to the injured woman; which brought down
  upon her own head the condemnation of the secesh population of the place。
  However;   Clotelle   purchased   a   fine   horse   from   the   landlord;   gave   it   to
  Miss Hastings; who; after securing some articles for which she had come
  to   Greenville;    left  town    under   cover    of  night;  and    escaped    further
  molestation。 This act of kindness to a helpless sister at once stirred up the
  vilest feelings of the people。
  〃The worst of slaves is he whom passion rules。〃
  As   has   already   been   said;   there   was   nothing   in   the   appearance   of
  Clotelle to indicate that a drop of African blood coursed through her veins;
  except; perhaps; the slight wave in the hair; and the scarcely perceptible
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  brunettish tinge upon the countenance。 She passed as a rebel lady; yet the
  inhabitants   of   Greenville   could   not   permit   sympathy   with;   and   aid   to;   a
  Union woman to pass unnoticed; and therefore resolved on revenge。
  〃Revenge; at first though sweet; Bitter ere long; back on itself recoils。〃
  Clotelle's person;  trunks;  and letters   were  all searched   with the   hope
  and expectation of finding evidences of a spy。 Nothing of the kind being
  found; she was then rigorously interrogated as to her sympathies with the
  two   contending   armies。 With   no   wish   whatever  to   conceal   her   opinions;
  she   openly   avowed   that   she   was   a   Union   woman。            This   was   enough。
  After     being    persecuted      during    the   day;   she   was    put   in  charge     of  a
  committee of rebel women for the night; with a promise of more violent
  treatment on the morrow。 The loyalty of the negroes of the South; during
  the severest hours of the rebellion; reflects the greatest possible credit on
  the race。     Through their assistance; hundreds of Union men were enabled
  to   make   their   escape   from   prisons;   and   thousands   kept   from   starvation
  when on their way to the Federal lines; or while keeping out of the way of
  rebel   recruiting   gangs。   They   seldom;   if   ever;   hesitated   to   do   the   white
  Unionists   a   service;   at   the   risk   even   of   life;   and;   under   the   most   trying
  circumstances; revealed a devotion and a spirit of self…sacrifice that were
  heroic。   No   one   ever   made   an   appeal   to   them  they  did   not   answer。 They
  were degraded and ignorant; which was attributable to the cruel laws and
  equally  unchristian   practices of   the people   of  the  South; but   their  hearts
  were     always     open;    and    the   slightest    demand      upon    their   sympathies
  brought   forth   their   tears。     They   never   shunned   a   man   or   woman   who
  sought food or shelter on their way to freedom。 The goodness of heart and
  the guileless spirit of the blacks was not better understood by any one than
  Clotelle;     and    she   felt  a  secret    joy   at  seeing    all  the   servants     in  the
  Greenville hotel negroes。 She saw from their very looks that she had their
  undivided       sympathies。      One    of  the   servants    overheard      the   rebels   in  a
  conversation;   in   which   it   was   determined   to   send   Clotelle   to   the   county
  town;   for   safe   keeping   in   the   jail;   the   following   day;   and   this   fact   was
  communicated to the   unfortunate   woman。                 The   slave   woman   who gave
  the information told her that she could escape if she desired。
  Having already been robbed of every thing except the apparel upon her
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  person and some money she had concealed about her; she at once signified
  to the black woman her wish to get out of the reach of her persecutors。 The
  old worn…out clock in the narrow dining hall had struck one; a cold rain
  was patting upon the roof; and the women watchers; one after another; had
  fallen   asleep;   and   even   the   snuff…dippers;   whose   dirty   practice   creates   a
  nervousness       that  keeps    them    awake    longer    than   any   other   class;  had
  yielded   to   the   demands   of   Morpheus;   when   Aggy;   the   colored   servant;
  stealthily entered the room; beckoned to Clotelle; and both left in silence。
  Cautiously and softly the black woman led the way; followed by the
  〃Angel   of   Mercy;〃   till;   after   passing   down   through   the   cellar   with   the
  water covering the floor; they emerged into the back yard。                    Two horses
  had been provided。 Clotelle mounted one; and a black man the other; the
  latter   leading    the   way。    Both    dashed     off  at  a  rapid   pace;   through     a
  drenching   storm;   with   such   a   pall…like   darkness   that   they   could   not   see
  each   other。 After   an   hour's   ride   the   negro   halted;   and   informed   Clotelle
  that he must leave her; and return with the horses; but that she was with
  friends。 He then gave a whistle; and for a moment held his breath。 Just as
  the  faithful   black   was   about   to   repeat   the  signal;  he   heard   the   response;
  and   in   a   moment   the   lady   alighted;   and   with   dripping   garments;   limbs
  chilled to numbness; followed her new guide to a place of concealment;
  near the village of Taitsville。
  〃You is jes as wet as a drownded rat;〃 said the mulatto woman; who
  met Clotelle as she entered the negro's cabin。
  〃Yes;〃 replied the latter; 〃this is a stormy night for one to be out。〃
  〃Yes mam; dese is hard times for eberybody dat 'bleves in de Union。 I
  'spose deys cotched your husband; an' put him in de army; ain't dey?〃
  〃No:     my husband died at Port Hudson; fighting for the Union;〃 said
  Clotelle。
  〃Oh;   mam;   dats   de   place   whar   de   black   people   fight   de   rebels   so;
  wasn't it?〃 remarked Dinah; for such was her name。