Gering’s defence was straightforward2. He held that he had sent the letter at a time when he was a prisoner simply, which was justifiable3; not when a prisoner on parole, which was shameless. The temper of the court was against him. Most important was the enmity of the Jesuits, whose hatred4 of Puritanism cried out for sacrifice. They had seen the work of the saints in every turn of the late siege, and they believed that the Lord had delivered the man into their hands. In secret ways their influence was strong upon many of the council, particularly those who were not soldiers. A soldier can appreciate bravery, and Gering had been courageous5. But he had killed one of the most beloved of Canadian officers, the gallant6 Sainte-Helene! Frontenac, who foresaw an end of which the council could not know, summed up, not unfairly, against Gering.
Gering’s defence was able, proud, and sometimes passionate7. Once or twice his words stung his judges like whips across their faces. He showed no fear; he asked no mercy. He held that he was a prisoner of war, and entitled to be treated as such. So strong, indeed, was his pleading, so well did his stout8 courage stand by him, that had Count Frontenac balanced in his favour he might have been quit of the charge of spying. But before the trial Iberville had had solitary9 talk with Frontenac, in which a request was repeated and a promise renewed.
Gering was condemned10 to die. It was perhaps the bravest moment of a brave life.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “I have heard your sentence, but, careless of military honour as you are, you will not dare put me to death. Do not think because we have failed this once that we shall not succeed again. I tell you, that if, instead of raw Boston sailors, ploughmen and merchant captains, and fishing craft and trading vessels11, I had three English war-ships and one thousand men, I would level your town from the citadel12 to the altar of St. Joseph’s. I do not fear to die, nor that I shall die by your will. But, if so, ‘twill be with English loathing13 of injustice14.”
His speech was little like to mollify his judges, and at his reference to St. Joseph’s a red spot showed upon many cheeks, while to the charge against their military honour, Frontenac’s eyes lighted ominously15. But the governor merely said: “You have a raw temper, sir. We will chasten you with bread and water; and it were well for you, even by your strange religion, to qualify for passage from this world.”
Gering was taken back to prison. As he travelled the streets he needed all his fortitude16, for his fiery17 speech had gone abroad, distorted from its meaning, and the common folk railed at him. As chastening, it was good exercise; but when now and again the name of Sainte-Helene rang towards him, a cloud passed over his face; that touched him in a tender corner.
He had not met Iberville since his capture, but now, on entering the prison, he saw his enemy not a dozen paces from the door, pale and stern. Neither made a sign, but with a bitter sigh Gering entered. It was curious how their fortunes had see-sawed, the one against the other, for twelve years.
Left alone in his cell with his straw and bread and water, he looked round mechanically. It was yet after noon. All at once it came to him that this was not the cell which he had left that day. He got up and began to examine it. Like every healthy prisoner, he thought upon means and chances of escape.
It did not seem a regular cell for prisoners, for there was a second door. This was in one corner and very narrow, the walls not coming to a right angle, but having another little strip of wall between. He tried to settle its position by tracing in his mind the way he had come through the prison. Iberville or Perrot could have done so instinctively18, but he was not woodsman enough. He thought, however, that the doorway19 led to a staircase, like most doors of the kind in old buildings. There was the window. It was small and high up from the floor, and even could he loosen the bars, it were not possible to squeeze through. Besides, there was the yard to cross and the outer wall to scale. And that achieved, with the town still full of armed men, he would have a perilous20 run. He tried the door: it was stoutly21 fastened; the bolts were on the other side; the key-hole was filled. Here was sufficient exasperation22. He had secreted23 a small knife on his person, and he now sat down, turned it over in his hand, looked up at the window and the smooth wall below it, at the mocking door, then smiled at his own poor condition and gave himself to cheerless meditation24.
He was concerned most for his wife. It was not in him to give up till the inevitable25 was on him and he could not yet believe that Count Frontenac would carry out the sentence. At the sudden thought of the rope—so ignominious26, so hateful—he shuddered27. But the shame of it was for his wife, who had dissipated a certain selfish and envious28 strain in him. Jessica had drawn29 from him the Puritanism which had made him self-conscious, envious, insular30.
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1
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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2
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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3
justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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9
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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10
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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11
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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12
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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13
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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14
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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15
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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16
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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24
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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25
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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26
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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27
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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28
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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29
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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30
insular
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| adj.岛屿的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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