Not only that, but they had actually assisted them by force of arms to complete that surprising conquest of Illinois, which was made without the effusion of a drop of blood. When Clark dispatched Major Bowman with half his force, to reduce Cahokia, an important trading-station higher up the river, the major was accompanied by two bodies of French militia2, with restored arms, who were the first to enter the place and inform the astounded3 inhabitants of the change of masters. The enterprise was completely successful, the fort at Cahokia was garrisoned4 with Americans, and the conquest of Illinois was virtually over.
Then, for the first time, Clark was able to turn his attention[81] to pacifying5 and regulating his suddenly acquired conquests, and toward the question of reducing the second of the great chain of posts from the lakes to the Mississippi, St. Vincent’s.
The Indian chiefs from the Wabash, with their beautiful princess, were also constantly in his thoughts; and almost every day a grand council was held, at which were settled the preliminaries of those treaties which were to secure Kentucky from savage6 barbarity.
In all these councils, Ruby7 Roland acted as interpreter and chief at once of her dusky delegation8, and the intercourse9 between her and the American leader was constant and quite familiar. The girl invariably insisted on the presence of father Gibault, who had become an ardent10 ally of the Americans, and the counsels of the two were of the utmost use to Clark, in the novel position in which he found himself placed.
And all this while the backwoods leader, who had been at the very first struck by Ruby’s beauty, found himself falling quickly and surely into the meshes11 of a love-net, from which it was impossible to extricate12 himself.
Ruby, whose manner toward him had been cold and distant at first, had retained her coldness, varied13 by bursts of great apparent friendliness14, in public.
But on one or two occasions, when Clark had endeavored, at the close of business, to engage her in conversation, she had invariably repelled15 him with the utmost haughtiness16. While father Gibault was present, she would talk freely, displaying all the graces of a cultivated woman; but to Clark alone she was as cold and cutting as a north-west wind.
Ruby Roland was indeed a strange compound of civilization and barbarism. Father Gibault himself, who had given her the greater part of her education, was often puzzled at her moods. The Indian warrior17 and the polished lady were about equally mixed in her manner. Of the humble18, submissive squaw there was no trace, for dignity and pride were in every motion.
At last Clark grew desperate. It was at the end of the last council, on the day when Bowman returned from Cahokia, when a final treaty of peace and amity19 had been concluded[82] between the tribes of the Wabash on the one hand, and the Americans on the other. When the chiefs rose to depart, after shaking hands with the colonel, Clark laid his hand on Ruby’s arm, as she was about to follow them, and said, in a clear voice:
“Mademoiselle Roland, with the chief’s daughter my business is over. With the French lady I desire a few minutes’ conversation.”
Ruby looked at him from head to foot as she withdrew her arm from his touch.
“You can not be much acquainted with French customs, monsieur,” she said, icily, “if you are not aware that unmarried girls do not hold conversation with bachelors, alone.”
“I invite father Gibault to be present,” said the Kentuckian, steadily20 determined21 not to be beaten. “There can be no impropriety in our talking before your religious instructor22.”
Ruby smiled very provokingly.
“There may be no impropriety, sir, but you will please to note that I belong to the delegation with which I came, and as a chief of the Wabash I have a duty to my friends. I can not leave them. So I wish you good morning.”
“Stay, madam,” cried Clark, excitedly. “In heaven’s name, how am I to take you? Are you chief or lady? Keep to one character, I beseech23 you. Which is it to be?”
Ruby drew her little figure up, and threw her velvet24 mantle25 over one shoulder, Indian fashion, with an air of the most ineffable26 pride.
“It is to be any thing, monsieur, which will keep me from speaking to you, who have avenged27 yourself on a poor boy for the cruelties you dare not resent from me.”
And she was at the door ere Clark had recovered from his astonishment28. Then he rushed forward, crying:
“Mademoiselle, only one single word. If I forgive the adjutant, will you grant me one single interview?”
“Try it, and see,” was the unsatisfactory reply, as the girl stepped haughtily29 from the room.
“Helas, mon ami, it is no use,” said father Gibault, elevating his shoulders to his ears in a truly French shrug30. “You can not drive that child from her own way. I remember when she was little, before her father died—rest his soul, poor[83] Captain Roland—she would roam away alone among the Indians, and they were more dangerous then than now. She would go up to the grimmest warrior in his war-paint, and pull his scalp-lock as he sat by the fire; and ’twas her wonderful boldness that first gained her the love of the old chief, Tabac. She was made a chief before she was ten years old, and formally adopted as head Medicine chief. They looked on her with superstition31, and reverenced32 her knowledge. In faith, monsieur, she knows all that I do in the way of science and art, and moreover, she is the head of all Indian woodcraft and magic. But you can not turn her out of the way, any more than the sun in heaven. She is immutable33.”
Clark stood ruminating34 awhile over the priest’s words. At last he answered:
“Father, give me your advice what to do.”
He detailed35 the history of his quarrel with the adjutant, and concluded by saying:
“What less could I do, sir, than put under arrest the young insolent36, who insulted her and me alike? Is it just, sir, for mademoiselle to visit this on me as a crime?”
Father Gibault took a pinch of snuff, and was silent.
“Why do you not answer, monsieur?” said Clark, pettishly37.
“Monsieur le colonel,” said Gibault, dryly, “it is obvious to me that your experience of women is limited. I never expect from them such a cold and severe article as justice.”
“Then what am I to do, in heaven’s name, sir?” asked the colonel, in a tone of desperation.
Gibault once more took snuff, and reflected a little.
“I think,” he said, at last, “that if I were you, (while I am not, for I am a priest in orders, bound to celibacy) I should take the hint the lady gave me, and—”
“Release the adjutant?” asked Clark, as the priest paused.
“Monsieur, as a priest, I can not give you any advice which would tend toward uniting a good Catholic and yourself.”
And father Gibault gave the borderer a curious look, that was compounded of sly humor and triumph.
Clark started back in amazement38. So much was he engrossed39 with what he thought mademoiselle’s injustice40, that he had not clearly understood whither he was tending.
[84]
“What do you mean?” he said, stammeringly41.
“I mean,” said the priest, quietly, “that every one in Kaskaskia, except Colonel Clark, is fully42 aware that he has fallen in love with Mademoiselle Roland, and that he is jealous of a mere43 boy, because that boy is a favorite of mademoiselle’s. Why, colonel, they are making songs about it in the streets.”
Even as the priest spoke44, they heard a chorus of lads in the street, as the young rascals45 passed under the windows, singing at the top of their voices a doggerel46 ditty, to the old air of “Malbrook,” better known nowadays as “We won’t go home till morning.” Clark listened, and turned red and pale alternately, as he clutched his sword-hilt; for the boys were coupling his own name with Ruby’s in the disrespectful manner common to French gamin and New York “bhoy” alike.
For the benefit of our readers we append the song, with a free translation:
“Le Colonel Clark est brave,
Mais il n’est qu’un esclave
Sous la main si douce et suave47
De Mademoiselle Rubie Roland,
La demoiselle sauvage et belle48-elle-elle,
La belle et sauvage demoiselle-elle-elle.
“Car Mademoiselle Rubie, la belle,
Le pousse debout de sa selle
Cette brave et sauvage demoiselle,
La demoiselle Rubie Roland,
La demoiselle Rubie Roland—and—and, etc.”[4]
No English words can convey, however, the mocking accent of the refrain in the chorus, and Clark was so much enraged49 that he would have rushed out into the street, had not father Gibault thrown himself into the way, crying:
“Hold, monsieur, in heaven’s name what are you about to do? Consider, that you will make yourself ridiculous. These people must sing, or they will plot.”
[85]
The colonel saw the folly50 of which he had nearly been guilty, and restrained himself. A moment later, he saw cause to congratulate himself, for, as he stood by the window, looking down at the impudent51 boys, the old French town constable52 made his appearance in the nick of time, and promptly53 collared two of the young scamps.
“You see, monsieur,” said father Gibault, pointing, “you did well to leave our old authorities in force. The old people will not suffer you to be insulted. See old Antoine. He knows hows to deal with the Kaskaskia boys.”
In effect, old Antoine seemed to be equal to the occasion, for he was a very strong old man, and he knocked the heads of the two boys together several times, with a force that made them howl again, while the rest of the lately uproarious group looked on, from afar off, in great dismay.
Clark, who had been standing54 by the open window, put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a silver dollar, which he threw down to the old constable, with a—
“Merci, mon ami.”
Old Antoine pulled off his hat, made a low bow, and pocketed the coin with many genuflexions, while the border leader turned away to Gibault, saying:
“My eyes are opened, father. The boys are right, after all; but what shall I do about my adjutant? If it should really happen that she loved him, I believe I should kill them both.”
“How old is this adjutant?” inquired father Gibault, quietly. “Remember, my son, that you lovers are apt to be jealous about trifles, and that is foolish. How old is he?”
“A mere boy, not sixteen, and small for his age,” said Clark, not without confusion. “But you must not fancy I am jealous of him, father—a little whipper-snapper, whom I could turn over my knee. No, sir; but you have no conception of the insolence55 with which he referred to mademoiselle. It was for that I placed him under arrest, and he kept talking back, with a manner perfectly56 indescribable. By heavens, sir, I wonder I did not kill him on the spot.”
Father Gibault smiled.
“I do not think you need be afraid of this boy, monsieur, unless, indeed, you make a martyr57 of him. I would advise[86] you to follow mademoiselle’s hint, as a friend, not as a priest.”
“I’ll do it, father,” said the Kentuckian, promptly. “Here, orderly, go to the arsenal58 where the Indian chiefs lodge59, and say to Adjutant Frank, with my compliments, that I wish to see him.”
The orderly left, and the commander paced up and down the room impatiently, waiting for the arrival of the culprit adjutant.
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1
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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pacifying
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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6
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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7
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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delegation
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| n.代表团；派遣 | |
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9
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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10
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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11
meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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12
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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13
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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14
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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15
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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16
haughtiness
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| n.傲慢；傲气 | |
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17
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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18
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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19
amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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20
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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21
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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22
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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23
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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24
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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25
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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26
ineffable
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| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
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27
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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28
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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29
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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30
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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31
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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32
reverenced
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| v.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的过去式和过去分词 )；敬礼 | |
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33
immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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34
ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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35
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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36
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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37
pettishly
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38
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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39
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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40
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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41
stammeringly
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| adv.stammering（口吃的）的变形 | |
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42
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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43
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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44
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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45
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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46
doggerel
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| n.拙劣的诗，打油诗 | |
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47
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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48
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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49
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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50
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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51
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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52
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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53
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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54
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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55
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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56
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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57
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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58
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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59
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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