Pickets4 were placed in each direction on the narrow path by which the spot was approached, and one was sent to stand guard on the shelving rock above.
Through the narrow crooked5 entrance they led Gus into the cave which had been the rendezvous6 of the Piedmont Den7 of the Clan1 since its formation. The meeting-place was a grand hall eighty feet deep, fifty feet wide, and more than forty feet in height, which had been carved out of the stone by the swift current of the river in ages past when its waters stood at a higher level.
To-night it was lighted by candles placed on the ledges8 of the walls. In the centre, on a fallen boulder9, sat the Grand Cyclops of the Den, the presiding officer of the township, his rank marked by scarlet10 stripes on the white-cloth spike11 of his cap. Around him stood twenty or more clansmen in their uniform, completely disguised. One among them wore a yellow sash, trimmed in gold, about 319 his waist, and on his breast two yellow circles with red crosses interlapping, denoting his rank to be the Grand Dragon of the Realm, or Commander-in-Chief of the State.
The Cyclops rose from his seat:
“Let the Grand Turk remove his prisoner for a moment and place him in charge of the Grand Sentinel at the door, until summoned.”
The officer disappeared with Gus, and the Cyclops continued:
“The Chaplain will open our Council with prayer.”
Solemnly every white-shrouded figure knelt on the ground, and the voice of the Rev12. Hugh McAlpin, trembling with feeling, echoed through the cave:
“Lord God of our Fathers, as in times past thy children, fleeing from the oppressor, found refuge beneath the earth until once more the sun of righteousness rose, so are we met to-night. As we wrestle13 with the powers of darkness now strangling our life, give to our souls to endure as seeing the invisible, and to our right arms the strength of the martyred dead of our people. Have mercy on the poor, the weak, the innocent and defenceless, and deliver us from the body of the Black Death. In a land of light and beauty and love our women are prisoners of danger and fear. While the heathen walks his native heath unharmed and unafraid, in this fair Christian14 Southland our sisters, wives, and daughters dare not stroll at twilight15 through the streets or step beyond the highway at noon. The terror of the twilight deepens with the darkness, and the stoutest16 heart grows sick with fear for the red message 320 the morning bringeth. Forgive our sins—they are many—but hide not thy face from us, O God, for thou art our refuge!”
As the last echoes of the prayer lingered and died in the vaulted17 roof, the clansmen rose and stood a moment in silence.
Again the voice of the Cyclops broke the stillness:
“Brethren, we are met to-night at the request of the Grand Dragon of the Realm, who has honoured us with his presence, to constitute a High Court for the trial of a case involving life. Are the Night Hawks18 ready to submit their evidence?”
“We are ready,” came the answer.
“Then let the Grand Scribe read the objects of the Order on which your authority rests.”
The Scribe opened his Book of Record, “The Prescript of the Order of the Invisible Empire,” and solemnly read:
“To the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, and to the shades of the venerated19 dead, greeting:
“This is an institution of Chivalry20, Humanity, Mercy, and Patriotism21: embodying22 in its genius and principles all that is chivalric23 in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic24 in purpose: its particular objects being,
“First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless from the indignities25, wrongs, and outrages26 of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal27; to relieve the injured and the oppressed: to succour the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and the orphans28 of Confederate Soldiers. 321
“Second: To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and all the laws passed in conformity29 thereto, and to protect the States and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever.
“Third: To aid and assist in the execution of all Constitutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure30, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.”
“The Night Hawks will produce their evidence,” said the Cyclops, “and the Grand Monk31 will conduct the case of the people against the negro Augustus C?sar, the former slave of Dr. Richard Cameron.”
Dr. Cameron advanced and removed his cap. His snow-white hair and beard, ruddy face and dark-brown brilliant eyes made a strange picture in its weird32 surroundings, like an ancient alchemist ready to conduct some daring experiment in the problem of life.
“I am here, brethren,” he said, “to accuse the black brute33 about to appear of the crime of assault on a daughter of the South——”
A murmur34 of thrilling surprise and horror swept the crowd of white-and-scarlet figures as with one common impulse they moved closer.
“His feet have been measured and they exactly tally35 with the negro tracks found under the window of the Lenoir cottage. His flight to Columbia and return on the publication of their deaths as an accident is a confirmation36 of our case. I will not relate to you the scientific experiment which first fixed37 my suspicion of this man’s guilt38. My witness could not confirm it, and it might not 322 be to you credible39. But this negro is peculiarly sensitive to hypnotic influence. I propose to put him under this power to-night before you, and, if he is guilty, I can make him tell his confederates, describe and rehearse the crime itself.”
The Night Hawks led Gus before Doctor Cameron, untied40 his hands, removed the gag, and slipped the blindfold41 from his head.
Under the doctor’s rigid42 gaze the negro’s knees struck together, and he collapsed43 into complete hypnosis, merely lifting his huge paws lamely44 as if to ward45 a blow.
They seated him on the boulder from which the Cyclops rose, and Gus stared about the cave and grinned as if in a dream seeing nothing.
The doctor recalled to him the day of the crime, and he began to talk to his three confederates, describing his plot in detail, now and then pausing and breaking into a fiendish laugh.
Old McAllister, who had three lovely daughters at home, threw off his cap, sank to his knees, and buried his face in his hands, while a dozen of the white figures crowded closer, nervously46 gripping the revolvers which hung from their red belts.
Doctor Cameron pushed them back and lifted his hand in warning.
The negro began to live the crime with fearful realism—the journey past the hotel to make sure the victims had gone to their home; the visit to Aunt Cindy’s cabin to find her there; lying in the field waiting for the last light of the village to go out; gloating with vulgar exultation47 323 over their plot, and planning other crimes to follow its success—how they crept along the shadows of the hedgerow of the lawn to avoid the moonlight, stood under the cedar48, and through the open windows watched the mother and daughter laughing and talking within——
“Min’ what I tells you now—Tie de ole one, when I gib you de rope,” said Gus in a whisper.
“My God!” cried the agonized49 voice of the figure with the double cross—“that’s what the piece of burnt rope in the fireplace meant!”
Doctor Cameron again lifted his hand for silence.
Now they burst into the room, and with the light of hell in his beady, yellow-splotched eyes, Gus gripped his imaginary revolver and growled51:
“Scream, an’ I blow yer brains out!”
In spite of Doctor Cameron’s warning, the white-robed figures jostled and pressed closer——
Gus rose to his feet and started across the cave as if to spring on the shivering figure of the girl, the clansmen with muttered groans52, sobs53, and curses falling back as he advanced. He still wore his full Captain’s uniform, its heavy epaulets flashing their gold in the unearthly light, his beastly jaws54 half covering the gold braid on the collar. His thick lips were drawn55 upward in an ugly leer and his sinister56 bead50 eyes gleamed like a gorilla’s. A single fierce leap and the black claws clutched the air slowly as if sinking into the soft white throat.
Strong men began to cry like children.
“Stop him! Stop him!” screamed a clansman, springing on the negro and grinding his heel into his big thick 324 neck. A dozen more were on him in a moment, kicking, stamping, cursing, and crying like madmen.
Doctor Cameron leaped forward and beat them off:
“Men! Men! You must not kill him in this condition!”
Some of the white figures had fallen prostrate57 on the ground, sobbing58 in a frenzy59 of uncontrollable emotion. Some were leaning against the walls, their faces buried in their arms.
Again old McAllister was on his knees crying over and over again:
“God have mercy on my people!”
When at length quiet was restored, the negro was revived, and again bound, blindfolded60, gagged, and thrown to the ground before the Grand Cyclops.
A sudden inspiration flashed in Doctor Cameron’s eyes. Turning to the figure with yellow sash and double cross he said:
“Issue your orders and despatch61 your courier to-night with the old Scottish rite62 of the Fiery63 Cross. It will send a thrill of inspiration to every clansman in the hills.”
“Good—prepare it quickly!” was the answer.
Doctor Cameron opened his medicine case, drew the silver drinking-cover from a flask64, and passed out of the cave to the dark circle of blood still shining in the sand by the water’s edge. He knelt and filled the cup half full of the crimson65 grains, and dipped it into the river. From a saddle he took the lightwood torch, returned within, and placed the cup on the boulder on which the Grand Cyclops had sat. He loosed the bundle of lightwood, 325 took two pieces, tied them into the form of a cross, and laid it beside a lighted candle near the silver cup.
The silent figures watched his every movement. He lifted the cup and said:
“Brethren, I hold in my hand the water of your river bearing the red stain of the life of a Southern woman, a priceless sacrifice on the altar of outraged66 civilization. Hear the message of your chief.”
The tall figure with the yellow sash and double cross stepped before the strange altar, while the white forms of the clansmen gathered about him in a circle. He lifted his cap, and laid it on the boulder, and his men gazed on the flushed face of Ben Cameron, the Grand Dragon of the Realm.
He stood for a moment silent, erect67, a smouldering fierceness in his eyes, something cruel and yet magnetic in his alert bearing.
He looked on the prostrate negro lying in his uniform at his feet, seized the cross, lighted the three upper ends and held it blazing in his hand, while, in a voice full of the fires of feeling, he said:
“Men of the South, the time for words has passed, the hour for action has struck. The Grand Turk will execute this negro to-night and fling his body on the lawn of the black Lieutenant-Governor of the State.”
The Grand Turk bowed.
“I ask for the swiftest messenger of this Den who can ride till dawn.”
The man whom Doctor Cameron had already chosen stepped forward: 326
“Carry my summons to the Grand Titan of the adjoining province in North Carolina whom you will find at Hambright. Tell him the story of this crime and what you have seen and heard. Ask him to report to me here the second night from this, at eleven o’clock, with six Grand Giants from his adjoining counties, each accompanied by two hundred picked men. In olden times when the Chieftain of our people summoned the clan on an errand of life and death, the Fiery Cross, extinguished in sacrificial blood, was sent by swift courier from village to village. This call was never made in vain, nor will it be to-night, in the new world. Here, on this spot made holy ground by the blood of those we hold dearer than life, I raise the ancient symbol of an unconquered race of men——”
High above his head in the darkness of the cave he lifted the blazing emblem——
“The Fiery Cross of old Scotland’s hills! I quench68 its flames in the sweetest blood that ever stained the sands of Time.”
He dipped its ends in the silver cup, extinguished the fire, and handed the charred69 symbol to the courier, who quickly disappeared.
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收听单词发音
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1
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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15
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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16
stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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18
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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venerated
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| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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21
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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embodying
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| v.表现( embody的现在分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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23
chivalric
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| 有武士气概的，有武士风范的 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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25
indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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26
outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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29
conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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30
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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38
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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40
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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41
blindfold
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| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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42
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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43
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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46
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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47
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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48
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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49
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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50
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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51
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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52
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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53
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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54
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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55
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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56
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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57
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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58
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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59
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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60
blindfolded
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| v.（尤指用布）挡住（某人）的视线( blindfold的过去式 )；蒙住（某人）的眼睛；使不理解；蒙骗 | |
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61
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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62
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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63
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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64
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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65
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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66
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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67
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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68
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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