THE war still raged. The whole world, one might dare to say, was more or less agitated1 by this conflict. Vigilance, tightening2 its grasp here, redoubling its blows there, watching the inlets and outlets3 everywhere, had taught a once happy people that war was no holiday sport. But the great end must be reached, the end of the "War of the Rebellion" with the government intact. To accomplish this, every means was deemed fair and honorable. Blockading, starvation, destruction of property, the torch-yea, any and every appliance that would tend to subdue4 a hostile people, was brought into requisition to maintain the Union.
So, before the third year of the memorable5 civil war had run its bloody6 course, want almost stalked abroad in this fair Southern land. But for the successful, though occasional ventures of some friendly vessel7, that succeeded in running the blockade, bringing stores necessary for the comfort of a war-worn people, dire8 want might have reigned9 supreme10 in many a household, where wealth and luxury once dwelt. So much for the good accomplished11 by those bold adventurers of the sea. And yet there were blockade-runners-a few, a very few, thank Heaven-who were but a set of human vultures, preying12 upon their fellow-beings, and who, for a sum of gold, would lend their hand to any deed of darkness. To this latter class belonged Joe Haralson, the well-known captain of the Tigress, the most successful blockade-runner on all the southern coast. Haralson himself was a native of one of the fertile cotton islands off the coast of the Palmetto State, and, in an hour of danger, had deserted13 his country, and fled to the West Indies. There he equipped a vessel for blockade-running, and being familiar with much of the southern coast, he was always successful in eluding14 the guns of the blockading fleets, and entering safely with his cargo15. The supplies of merchandise, and the munitions16 of war that he occasionally landed, were exchanged for cotton, which he sold for gold at a fabulous17 profit.
It was the summer after the removal of Mr. Mordecai's family to Inglewood. In the month of June, Joe Haralson anchored the Tigress safely within the port of Havana. New Providence18 was his usual harbor of refuge; but now, other business than the successful disposal of his cargo of cotton had brought him thither19. One soft, sweet morning, in this land where spring and summer alternate, Leah had been out driving with her husband, enjoying the early morning breeze, and hoping that it would benefit the delicate little Sarah, then in her second summer. They drew near the Plaza20 de la Mar21, and Emile remarked, as he surveyed the endless rows of shipping22:
"There, Leah, see the countless23 numbers of flags."
"Yes, all but the flag of our struggling country," she replied. "I wonder if that will ever become a recognized flag among nations?"
"I fear not," Emile replied gravely. "But there! our darling has fallen asleep! We must hasten home."
On reaching home, Emile kissed his wife, and softly kissed his sleeping baby too, before alighting from the light volante; and then, throwing the lines to Petro, the slave, who was awaiting their return, he said, "Take care of the pony24, Petro;" and turning to his wife--"You take care of my wee lamb, Leah, till I come again," and left them.
An hour later, and a thick-set, rough-visaged man entered the banking-house of Gardner & Company, and asked, in faltering25 English, "Is Se¤or Le Grande in?"
"Yes," replied Mr. Gardner. "Here, Mr. Le Grande, this man wants to see you." Emile approached, and looking curiously26 at the stranger, observed that he was clad partly in sailor's, partly in citizen's clothes. "What will you have, sir?" demanded Emile.
"Se¤or," replied the strange man, whose broken English betrayed his Spanish tongue, "Dere is at da w'arf Blanco Plaza, a 'Merican vessel from da States. A seik frien' wish to see se¤or Le Grande, very quick, very quick, se¤or."
"From what State does the vessel come?" asked Emile in astonishment27.
"From da Soutern State, se¤or, da Pa'metto State."
In a moment Emile conjectured28 that it was some blockade-runner, and supposed some friend or relative had arrived, and, being unable to come on shore, had indeed sent for him. Without waiting to consider, and without further explanation, he accompanied the strange guide, who led the way to the wharf29. The flags were floating free and gay, yet as this nameless cicerone pointed30 out the Tigress, that lay before them with flag staff bare, Emile Le Grande thought, "The captain is afraid to show his colors; well he may be."
"Captain Haralson, Se¤or Le Grande," said the guide, in broken accents, as he entered the ship's cabin, where the captain awaited his return. "I told cap'n you I would bring him," he continued, with a savage31 grin upon his features.
"Who is it would see me?" demanded Emile. "Where is my sick friend?"
"You are a prisoner, sir," replied the captain fiercely, "a fugitive32 from justice, and your State calls for your return."
"By what authority do you utter those words, you scoundrel?" replied Emile, in bewildered indignation.
"By the authority of those you have injured, and who have sent me to bring you back."
"Who, and where are my accusers?" asked Emile angrily. "Let them dare confront me!"
"Then follow me," said the captain, as he passed along to a small apartment, a kind of saloon, at the end of the vessel. He gave three sharp, quick raps at the door, then turned the bolt and entered. Emile followed. Seated before them upon a ship-lounge, with a book lying idly in her lap, was-Rebecca Mordecai!
"Aha! and you have come at last, captain," she said. Arising from her seat and turning her eyes upon Emile, she continued, "Mr. Le Grande, we meet again, securely as you deemed yourself beyond the reach of justice. You see oceans and shell-guns are no barriers in the way of the accomplishment33 of my ends. You fled from your country, thinking your foul34 crime would never come to light; but 'murder will out,' and now, you are my prisoner. Justice will yet be avenged35."
"What do you mean, woman? your tongue contains the poison of asps. If I did not know your face, I would swear you were some escaped inmate36 of a madhouse. Tell me your meaning, lunatic," replied Emile, in wrathful astonishment.
"Call me lunatic, if you dare, you miserable37 felon38. Deny my words, if you please, but your own written confession39 is in my hands."
"Confession of what?" shouted Emile, stamping his foot in indignation. "Never, never, am I your prisoner! I'll leave this cursed place,--"
"Not so fast, my friend," said Joe Haralson menacingly, as Emile made an attempt to leave the room. "Not so fast! I am promised much gold, if I bring you alive to your native State; and that gold, my friend, I shall have."
"Release me! release me!" shouted Emile, "I am an innocent man. This woman--"
"Hush40, my friend, or I'll stow you away where your cries will not reach any human ear. Be quiet, my lad."
Emile saw that resistance was useless; and he said calmly, turning again to Rebecca "Of what crime am I guilty, that you thus hunt me as you would a wild beast?"
"Would you know?" she replied, with a scornful, cruel laugh. "Would you know even half the crimes that are scored against you in your native State?"
"You can tell me of none," he replied sullenly41, regretting that he had again spoken to this merciless woman, into whose snare42 he had so unwarily fallen.
"Perhaps you think we have not yet discovered who murdered Mark Abrams; but, sir, we have."
"Who was it?" indignantly inquired Emile.
"It was-Emile-Le-Grande," she replied slowly, her fierce eye marking every emotion of his face.
"Great Heavens. What an atrocity43!"
"Deny it if you dare, I have the proof."
"Prove it, if you can. I dare you to prove it. But I must leave this place. Such nonsense shall not detain me longer. I know that you are mad.-Captain, release me. Do not heed44 the ravings of that woman any longer."
"I am pledged, sir, on the accusation45 of this woman, to convey you safely back to the State, and back you must go. I can allow you no opportunity to escape."
"I must see my wife first. I cannot go without it."
"The vessel is ready to start. It will be impossible for you to see her. If you are quiet and obedient, you shall not be manacled; if you resist, we shall stow you away in security. Be wise now, and be silent."
"But my wife--"
"In an hour the Tigress will be out of port, sir, and you cannot see her."
"Alas46! alas!" groaned47 Emile. "In Heaven's name, why has this evil befallen me?" and quickly sinking down upon a cabin stool, he said, "Keep me from the presence of this wretched lunatic, captain, if I must go. Yes, if I must be stolen in this cowardly way, from a peaceful home, and taken from a loving wife and innocent, helpless child, I can but submit; but keep that wretched woman out of my presence, I implore48 you."
"My friend, you may stay in here," replied the relentless49 captain, "till we are out of port;" and opening the door of a small room that contained only a port-hole of a window, he locked Emile in, and then busied himself with preparations for a speedy departure. Once shut in, Emile drew from his pocket a slip of paper, and addressed a line to Gardner & Company, urging his friend to go for his wife, and come to him at once. From his diminutive50 window he spied a slave near by, and quickly summoning him, said, "Here's my watch, boy; take this note quick to Gardner & Company, and my watch shall be yours." Then he threw the slip of paper out of the window. Distressed51 and dismayed, he sank down again, nervous and miserable, for fear the Tigress would depart before his wife and Mr. Gardner should arrive.
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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outlets
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| n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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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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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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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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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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preying
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| v.掠食( prey的现在分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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eluding
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的现在分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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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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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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