As for the prisoners, like the sea after a storm, their passions slowly stilled. Once only did they break into active rage, when, upon the release of their leaders, David Leverett did not return, and a soldier confessed that he had betrayed them for two hundred pounds. Then the plot and its failure were dismissed before rumours5 of peace. At first these woke and died again, yet gradually a greater degree of truth characterised them, and all men felt the music of freedom and of home playing at their hearts.
But in Prince Town was witnessed the spectacle of a worthy7 gentleman struggling with a task somewhat beyond his strength. As Commandant of a War Prison, wherein were nearly six thousand souls, now grown turbulent and reckless at rumours of approaching liberation, Captain Short found himself involved in countless8 difficulties.
After the discovery and defeat of their plot, the mass of prisoners was removed and confined in Nos. 1 and 3; while, by way of comprehensive punishment for their attempt, every man was docked of one-third of his allowance for the space of ten days. Grave friction9 resulted from this measure, and Short's officers went in secret fear of a rising. To check the possibility of such a disaster, he adopted stringent10 methods, and continual strife11 between the turnkeys and prisoners was the result. Both sides displayed passion, and many a sentry12, for some disrespectful word concerning Congress or the President of the United States, had his head broken.
With the severe mid-winter weather, increased sickness fell upon the War Prison, and the most popular man at Prince Town in these days was Doctor Magrath, a surgeon whose humanity, energy and skill made him the personal friend of every sufferer. He struck up an acquaintance with Cecil Stark, and, at the doctor's advice, the young American henceforth eschewed13 prison politics and threw all his weight upon the side of law, order and patience.
A partial exchange of prisoners had wakened general hopes, but when it was found that nothing more in that sort would be done, the Americans vented14 their annoyance15 by playing a thousand pranks16 upon authority. On one occasion a man was seen ostentatiously escaping out of a window by moonlight. When challenged he refused to answer and continued to descend17 a rope. The guard at Short's own order fired, rushed in as the figure fell heavily to the earth, and found a dummy18. Unfortunately, such jests bred an evil temper, and once when certain soldiers discovered a candle burning by night and ordered its extinction19, they fired a volley through the windows almost before it had been possible to comply with their demand. By a miracle no harm was done, but every prisoner knew next day how the watch had fired upon sleeping men, and the soldiery justly suffered under the lash20 of a thousand tongues.
William Burnham it was who suspected that the outbursts of severity probably marked British reverses at sea; and the thing became a jest, so that whenever a hard word was spoken, or a harsh punishment ordered, the Americans shouted together and cheered their country's successes.
Burnham, indeed, had come into distinction of late days. Despite the advice of Stark and others, who now preached patience and obedience21 while all waited for peace, Burnham, ever jealous of his old messmate, and glad to find himself a leader of men, stayed not to consider the manner of men he led, but stood for a factious22 and unruly multitude, and promised to support their fancied rights. Ira Anson joined this party also and to him as much as Burnham belonged the discredit23 of various ill-timed and vicious commotions24. Their conduct maddened Short, and finally they led him into tribulation25 and themselves paid the penalty.
With the end of the year came a persistent26 rumour6 that the crew of the Marblehead was about to be exchanged, but this hoped-for circumstance did not happen, and William Burnham, with his faction27, grew more desperate and more unwise. Unfortunately, they numbered secret friends among the soldiers and non-commissioned officers at the Prison, for not a few of the baser sort were disaffected28 against their own superiors, and at least pretended sympathy with the Americans. On the other side laboured many more sensible men, and while each heart throbbed29 for the news so long withheld30, law and order were re-established, and the schools, arranged for the young and ignorant, were opened again. For two years these institutions had done valuable work; it was only after the failure of the great plot to burrow31 out of the Prison that they became neglected.
There fell a memorable32 day at the year's end when news reached Prince Town that the Commissioners33 at Ghent had signed the Treaty of peace and that the sloop-of-war, Favourite, would sail immediately with the document to the United States. This occasion was seized for widespread rejoicings within the Prison, and Captain Short felt as thankful at heart as any of his charges. But while the day of thanksgiving drew to its close, the tumult34 in the prisons drew deafening35; great masses of men stampeded from yard to yard; a mad spirit animated36 reckless thousands; the air grew heavily charged with human passion; and danger threatened in many shapes.
Burnham's party had obtained a quantity of gunpowder37 unknown to their guards, and with this they manufactured bombs which exploded with reports like cannon38. Alarming rumours followed these discharges; some said efforts were being made to blow down the walls; many junior officers approached Commandant Short with fear upon their faces.
At midday a pennant39 was seen to flutter out above each division of the Prison, and on No. 3, styled "The Commodore," a huge white flag broke and revealed a legend printed upon it. "Free Trade and Sailors' Rights." A salute40 of seventeen bombs accompanied this display and the riot became deafening. Far distant upon the Moor41 many a traveller heard the sound, as of remote thunders grumbling42 under the horizon, and hastened upon his journey in dread43 of approaching tempest.
At the Prison, as the flags flew out, and the multitudes roared, Cecil Stark approached Burnham and prayed him to consider his position.
"You are doing a mad thing," he said. "You know as well as I that while a spark of reason lurked44 in efforts to escape authority, I was eager as any man. Ay, and beyond reason too, for, looking back, I see that the tunnel plot was folly45. But now, to what purpose is this frantic46 nonsense? We shall be free men in three months. Then why make vexatious friction and lend the weight of your support to so much brainless folly?"
Burnham had been drinking and he answered fiercely.
"Cease your preaching! I calculate things are just about cooked now; and they'll have to be eaten. We know you, at any rate—ever ready to make trouble when you had no temptation to do otherwise. But now—you're an Englishman in disguise!"
"If you were not drunk, I'd thrash you before your bullies47, for that insult."
"Threats—threats and big words. We know you, I say; we see through you. A place-seeker, who tried to lead that he might gratify his own cursed vanity. Now you are a pious48 prig and teach in the school and say your prayers, I dare say! Much good your leadership did—you with big patriotic49 words on your lips and an English girl in your mean heart!"
"Leave that, or I'll——"
"Do it—do it! D'you think I fear you? I'm leader now—leader of braver men than ever listened to you. Touch me, and a hundred men will break every bone in your body! A Yankee—you! I'll swear, if the truth was known, we should find you were leagued with Judas Leverett himself. Take that pill and swallow it, you canting humbug50!"
Stark fell back and stared at his old companion.
"You!" he cried. "Bill Burnham to say that to me!"
He was silent and the other repeated his charge.
"I'll speak with you when you're sober then."
"And what will you say?" began the younger; but Stark turned from him; and at the same moment a peculiar51 whistle, used by his gang as a signal, told Burnham that he was wanted. Captain Short, with a bodyguard52 of armed troops, had appeared, and he desired to speak with a representative of the prisoners.
Burnham, with Ira Anson, stepped forward, and the rest of the mischief-makers stood in a group and watched them.
"Do you speak for these troublesome men?" asked the Commandant.
"I do," answered the young American. "I lead them all; and I'll not answer for them if any attempt is made to oppress them to-day."
"At least their spokesman should not be drunk himself, whatever his rag-tag and bob-tail are. You stand condemned53, for you know that liquor is forbidden."
"The lad's not drunk," said Anson; "or, if he is, it is only at the same tap as all of us: the news from Ghent."
"I'll not argue it, sir. I'm only sorry you cannot receive the news in a spirit more worthy. At least you'll oblige me by striking that flag on Prison No. 3. It is an invitation to foolish and ignorant sailors to mutiny, and I will not permit it to float here while I'm in command."
"The word 'Rights' is a red rag to your Government," said Anson insolently54.
"Your rights at least have always been respected," answered Short patiently. "I wish I could help you benighted55 fellows to see reason and take juster views. Your conduct proceeds from hatred56 of us and fear of us, instead of hatred of evil and fear of God. But 'tis your nation that must answer for you. Believe me, I shall be very well pleased to wash my hands of you."
Stark approached at this moment, and Captain Short turned to him.
"You at least are intelligent; and you fought fair," said the soldier. "Now I desire that yonder flag should be hauled down. I ask politely; I sink authority and approach these foolish fellows here as man to man. One is intoxicated57; the other is, unfortunately, not a gentleman. I desire that that offensive flag shall be pulled down, and since we are in the atmosphere of peace, I will hoist58 an American emblem59 at the Prison gate and let it wave beside the union Jack60."
"You are generous," declared Cecil Stark. "Nothing could be fairer."
"I say 'no,'" interposed Burnham doggedly61. "My men will have their flag; and if the motto stings—let it sting."
"In that case I order all flags down," answered Short, his neck flushing crimson62. "Since you are such an intractable ass4, you must be driven. Let every shred63 of bunting be down ere the sun sets, or it shall be brought down. If you court hard knocks, you may expect them."
He turned away in a rage, and Burnham whistled "Yankee Doodle," while a few silly sailors who had overheard the conversation cheered their representatives and hissed64 at Cecil Stark. But later in the day Anson prevailed with his detachments, and at sunset, rather than provoke an actual struggle, the flags came down. To the end, however, they defied their guards. Captain Short himself led three hundred men with fixed65 bayonets, and Sergeant66 Bradridge, who was of the number, expected at last to hear the sound of battle. But as the red winter sun sank behind the Moor, every flag fluttered simultaneously67 to earth, and for that time acute danger vanished with the daylight.
Many sailors were now arriving from the British battleships. These men, on hearing of peace, claimed the rights of American citizenship68, and refused longer to fight against their fellow-countrymen. Those guilty of such tergiversation met but a frosty welcome at Prince Town, and new strifes followed upon their arrival. Among these shifty mariners69 were six from H.M.S. Pelican70, who had fought in the action between that vessel71 and the United States brig Argus. The crew of the captured brig had been imprisoned72 at Prince Town; and after the Pelican's men arrived, such was the bitter animosity displayed against them that they found their lives in danger. To Captain Short these people appealed for protection, and another grave collision occurred between Burnham's party and the Commandant, when a detachment of soldiers entered the War Prison and rescued the six by force of arms. Then came two more defaulters from an English ship, and as both had actually volunteered for British service from Prince Town a year before, they were received back again with universal execration73. A court convened74 by Ira Anson sat upon these poor wretches75, and while some cried for their instant death, others proposed a flogging.
It was Mr. Knapps who hit upon an agreeable punishment to meet their crime.
"Take the doodles and brand 'em," he said. "They've got the name of a British ship tattooed76 over their dirty hearts, for I seed it there; now put U.S.T. on their faces, so as they'll be known evermore for United States Traitors77."
The proposal was cheered and acted upon. To the hospital the sufferers went after their punishment, and Doctor Macgrath did what was possible to eradicate78 the damning letters; but they had been bitten in too well. Captain Short took this matter gravely, and the men responsible for the actual assault were thrust into the cachots to stand their trial.
Another incident to illustrate79 the growing rancour and bitterness may be given. A prisoner—one of four unfortunates who had suffered six months in a cachot—watched his opportunity when at exercise, and escaped from his yard to the next. He was immediately surrounded by his countrymen, and when Short demanded him back, the Americans refused to give him up. Thereupon the Commandant appeared with fixed bayonets and directed all prisoners to retire into their respective quarters, that a strict search might be made for the escaped man. Burnham, however, defied this order in the name of his comrades.
"This poor devil has suffered enough," he said. "His crime, which was an alleged80 attempt to blow up a British schooner81, was never proved against him, and we will not restore him to renewed tortures. I am master here, and we lack not for arms or skill to use them. That you will learn to your cost, if you try force against us. You forget that the war is ended now."
Captain Short perceived that with his small company he would have little chance against the threatening hordes82 arrayed against him; therefore, without answering Burnham, he gave the order to retire, and left the prison amid wild and derisive83 shouts and cat-calls.
But albeit84 defeated, the Commandant took a weak man's revenge and shut up the Prison markets. Instantly Burnham and his friends issued an order that no carpenter, mason nor other mechanic should do any further work for the British Government until the markets were re-opened. This 'strike' caused such unexpected expense and inconvenience, that Captain Short was constrained85 to yield again. The markets were set going once more and the artificers promptly86 returned to their labours. Thus the prisoners achieved their ends, and Burnham, flushed with success, continued to take the side of lawlessness; while Short, much embittered87 by his reverse and uneasily conscious that his own officers were laughing at him, sank into a brooding ferocity that darkened his face and boded88 ill for the future.
An interval89 of calm succeeded; and then fell out those tragic90 events that closed the history of the Prince Town War Prison.
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1
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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8
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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13
eschewed
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| v.（尤指为道德或实际理由而）习惯性避开，回避( eschew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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16
pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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21
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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factious
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| adj.好搞宗派活动的，派系的，好争论的 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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commotions
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| n.混乱，喧闹，骚动( commotion的名词复数 ) | |
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tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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disaffected
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| adj.（政治上）不满的，叛离的 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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41
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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42
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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44
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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45
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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46
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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47
bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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48
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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49
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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50
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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51
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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52
bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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53
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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54
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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55
benighted
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| adj.蒙昧的 | |
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56
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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57
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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58
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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60
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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64
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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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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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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pelican
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| n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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72
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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74
convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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76
tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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77
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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eradicate
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| v.根除，消灭，杜绝 | |
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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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80
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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81
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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82
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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87
embittered
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| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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