clotelle(有色女英雄)-第35节
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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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CLOTELLE
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。
