The Clansmen had left the two beams projecting through the windows of the north and south wings of the Capitol. A hangman's noose1 swung from each beam's end.
When His Excellency drove into town next morning and received the news of the startling events of the night, he ordered a double guard of troops for his office and another for his house.
Old Governor Carteret called at ten o'clock and was ushered2 immediately into the executive office. No more striking contrast could be imagined between two men of equal stature3. Their weight and height were almost the same, yet they seemed to belong to different races of men. The Scalawag official hurried to meet his distinguished4 caller—a man whose administration thirty years ago was famous in the annals of the state.
The acting5 Governor seemed a pigmy beside his venerable predecessor6. The only prominent feature of the Scalawag's face was his nose. Its size should have symbolized7 strength, yet it didn't. It seemed to project straight in front in a way that looked ridiculous—as if some one had caught it with a pair of tongs,[Pg 72] tweaked and pulled it out to an unusual length. It was elongated8 but not impressive. His mouth was weak, his chin small and retreating and his watery9 ferret eyes never looked any one straight in the face. The front of his head was bald and sloped backward at an angle. His hair was worn in long, thin, straight locks which he combed often in a vain effort to look the typical long-haired Southern gentleman of the old school.
His black broadcloth suit with a velvet10 collar and cuffs11 fitted his slight figure to perfection and yet failed to be impressive. The failure was doubtless due to his curious way of walking about a room. Sometimes sideways like a crab12 or a crawfish, and when he sought to be impressive, straight forward with an obvious jerk and an effort to appear dignified13.
He was the kind of a man an old-fashioned negro, born and bred in the homes of the aristocratic régime of slavery, would always laugh at. His attempt to be a gentleman was so obvious a fraud it could deceive no one.
"I am honored, Governor Carteret, by your call this morning," he cried with forced politeness. "I need the advice of our wisest men. I appreciate your coming."
The old Governor studied the Scalawag for a moment calmly and said:
"Thank you."
When shown to his seat the older man walked with the unconscious dignity of a man born to rule, the lines of his patrician14 face seemed cut from a cameo in contrast with the rambling15 nondescript features of the person who walked with a shuffle16 beside him. It required no second glance at the clean ruffled17 shirt with its tiny gold studs, the black string tie, the polished boots and[Pg 73] gold-headed cane18 to recognize the real gentleman of the old school. And no man ever looked a second time at his Roman nose and massive chin and doubted for a moment that he saw a man of power, of iron will and fierce passions.
"I have called this morning, Governor," the older man began with sharp emphasis, "to advise you to revoke19 at once your proclamation suspending the writ20 of habeas corpus. Your act was a blunder—a colossal21 blunder! We are not living in the Dark Ages, sir—even if you were elected by a negro constituency! Your act is four hundred years out of date in the English-speaking world."
The Scalawag began his answer by wringing22 his slippery hands:
"I realize, Governor Carteret, the gravity of my act. Yet grave dangers call for grave remedies. You see from the news this morning the condition of turmoil23 into which reckless men have plunged24 the state."
The old man rose, crossed the room and confronted the Scalawag, his eyes blazing, his uplifted hand trembling with passion:
"The breed of men with whom you are fooling have not submitted to such an act of tyranny from their rulers for the past three hundred years. Your effort to set the negro up as the ruler of the white race is the act of a madman. Revoke your order to-day or the men who opened that jail last night will hang you——"
The Governor laughed lamely25:
"A cheap bluff26, sir, a schoolboy's threat!"
The older man drew closer:
"A cheap bluff, eh? Well, when you say your prayers to-night, don't forget to thank your Maker27 for[Pg 74] two things—that He sent a storm yesterday that made Buffalo28 creek29 impassable and that I reached its banks in time!"
The little Scalawag paled and his voice was scarcely a whisper:
"Why—why, what do you mean?"
"That I reached the ford30 in time to stop a hundred desperate men who were standing31 there in the dark waiting for its waters to fall that they might cross and hang you from that beam's end you call a cheap bluff! That I stood there in the moonlight with my arm around their leader for nearly an hour begging, praying, pleading for your damned worthless life! They gave it to me at last because I asked it. No other man could have saved you. Your life is mine to-day! But for my solemn promise to those men that you would revoke that order your body would be swinging at this moment from the Capitol window—will you make good my promise?"
"I'll—I'll consider it," was the waning32 answer.
"Yes or no?"
"I'll think it over, Governor Carteret—I'll think it over," the trembling voice repeated. "I must consult my friends——"
"I won't take that answer!" the old man thundered in his face. "Revoke that proclamation here and now, or, by the Lord God, I'll send a message to those men that'll swing you from the gallows33 before the sun rises to-morrow morning!"
"I've got my troops——"
"A hell of a lot of troops they are! Where were they last night—the loafing, drunken cowards? You can't get enough troops in this town to save you. Revoke that proclamation or take your chances!"[Pg 75]
The old Governor seized his hat and walked calmly toward the door. The Scalawag trembled, and finally said:
"I'll take your advice, sir—wait a moment until I write the order."
The room was still for five minutes, save for the scratch of the Governor's pen, as he wrote his second famous proclamation, restoring the civil rights of the people. He signed and sealed the document and handed it to his waiting guest:
"Is that satisfactory?"
The old man adjusted his glasses, read each word carefully, and replied with dignity:
"Perfectly—good morning!"
The white head erect34, the visitor left the executive chamber35 without a glance at the man he despised.
The Governor had given his word, signed and sealed his solemn proclamation, but he proved himself a traitor36 to the last.
With the advice of his confederates he made a last desperate effort to gain his end of holding the leaders of the opposition37 party in jail by a quick shift of method. He wired orders to every jailer to hold the men until warrants were issued for their arrest by one of his negro magistrates38 in each county and wired instructions to the clerk of the court to admit none of them to bail39 no matter what amount offered.
The charges on which these warrants were issued were, in the main, preposterous40 perjuries41 by the hirelings of the Governor. There was no expectation that they would be proven in court. But if they could hold these prisoners until the election was over the little Scalawag[Pg 76] believed the Klan could be thus intimidated42 in each district and the negro ticket triumphantly43 elected.
The Governor was explicit44 in his instructions to the clerk of the court in the Capital county that under no conceivable circumstances should he accept bail for the editor of the Eagle and Phoenix45.
The Governor's proclamation was issued at noon and within an hour a deputy sheriff appeared at Norton's office and served his warrant charging the preposterous crime of "Treason and Conspiracy46" against the state government.
Norton's hundred picked men were already lounging in the Court House Square. When the deputy appeared with his prisoner they quietly closed in around him and entered the clerk's room in a body. The clerk was dumfounded at the sudden packing of his place with quiet, sullen47 looking, armed men. Their revolvers were in front and the men were nervously48 fingering the handles.
The clerk had been ordered by the Governor under no circumstances to accept bail, and he had promised with alacrity49 to obey. But he changed his mind at the sight of those revolvers. Not a word was spoken by the men and the silence was oppressive. The frightened official mopped his brow and tried to leave for a moment to communicate with the Capitol. He found it impossible to move from his desk. The men were jammed around him in an impenetrable mass. He looked over the crowd in vain for a friendly face. Even the deputy who had made the arrest had been jostled out of the room and couldn't get back.
The editor looked at the clerk steadily50 for a moment and quietly asked:[Pg 77]
"What amount of bail do you require?"
The officer smiled wanly51:
"Oh, major, it's just a formality with you, sir; a mere52 nominal53 sum of $500 will be all right."
"Make out your bond," the editor curtly54 ordered. "My friends here will sign it."
"Certainly, certainly, major," was the quick answer. "Have a seat, sir, while I fill in the blank."
"I'll stand, thank you," was the quick reply.
The clerk's pen flew while he made out the forbidden bail which set at liberty the arch enemy of the Governor. When it was signed and the daring young leader quietly walked out the door, a cheer from a hundred men rent the air.
The shivering clerk cowered55 in his seat over his desk and pretended to be very busy. In reality he was breathing a prayer of thanks to God for sparing his life and registering a solemn vow56 to quit politics and go back to farming.
The editor hurried to his office and sent a message to each district leader of the Klan to secure bail for the accused men in the same quiet manner.
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1
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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2
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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4
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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6
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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symbolized
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| v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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10
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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11
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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13
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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14
patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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15
rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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17
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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19
revoke
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| v.废除，取消，撤回 | |
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20
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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21
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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22
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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23
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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24
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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25
lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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26
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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27
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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28
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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29
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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30
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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31
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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32
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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33
gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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34
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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35
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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36
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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37
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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38
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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39
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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40
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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41
perjuries
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| n.假誓，伪证，伪证罪( perjury的名词复数 ) | |
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42
intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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43
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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44
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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45
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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46
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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47
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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48
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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49
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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50
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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51
wanly
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| adv.虚弱地；苍白地，无血色地 | |
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52
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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53
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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54
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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55
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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56
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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