James Playfair, without losing a moment, entered into negotiation9 with General Beauregard, the military commander of the town. The latter eagerly received the young Captain of the Dolphin, who had arrived in time to provide the soldiers with the clothes and ammunition they were so much in want of. It was agreed that the unloading of the ship should take place immediately, and numerous hands came to help the English sailors.
Before quitting his ship James Playfair had received from Miss Halliburtt the most pressing injunctions with regard to her father, and the Captain had placed himself entirely10 at the young girl's service.
"Miss Jenny," he had said, "you may rely on me; I will do the utmost in my power to save your father, but I hope this business will not present many difficulties. I shall go and see General Beauregard to-day, and, without asking him at once for Mr. Halliburtt's liberty, I shall learn in what situation he is, whether he is on bail11 or a prisoner."
"My poor father!" replied Jenny, sighing; "he little thinks his daughter is so near him. Oh that I could fly into his arms!"
"A little patience, Miss Jenny; you will soon embrace your father. Rely upon my acting12 with the most entire devotion, but also with prudence13 and consideration."
This is why James Playfair, after having delivered the cargo of the Dolphin up to the General, and bargained for an immense stock of cotton, faithful to his promise, turned the conversation to the events of the day.
"So," said he, "you believe in the triumph of the slave-holders?"
"I do not for a moment doubt of our final success, and, as regards Charleston, Lee's army will soon relieve it: besides, what do you expect from the Abolitionists? Admitting that which will never be, that the commercial towns of Virginia, the two Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, fall under their power, what then? Will they be masters of a country they can never occupy? No, certainly not; and for my part, if they are ever victorious14, they shall pay dearly for it."
"And you are quite sure of your soldiers?" asked the Captain. "You are not afraid that Charleston will grow weary of a siege which is ruining her?"
"No, I do not fear treason; besides, the traitors15 would be punished remorselessly, and I would destroy the town itself by sword or fire if I discovered the least unionist movement. Jefferson Davis confided16 Charleston to me, and you may be sure that Charleston is in safe hands."
"Have you any Federal prisoners?" asked James Playfair, coming to the interesting object of the conversation.
"Yes, Captain," replied the General, "it was at Charleston that the first shot of separation was fired. The Abolitionists who were here attempted to resist, and, after being defeated, they have been kept as prisoners of war."
"And have you many?"
"About a hundred."
"Free in the town?"
"They were until I discovered a plot formed by them: their chief succeeded in establishing a communication with the besiegers, who were thus informed of the situation of affairs in the town. I was then obliged to lock up these dangerous guests, and several of them will only leave their prison to ascend17 the slope of the citadel18, where ten confederate balls will reward them for their federalism."
"What! to be shot!" cried the young man, shuddering19 involuntarily.
"Yes, and their chief first of all. He is a very dangerous man to have in a besieged20 town. I have sent his letters to the President at Richmond, and before a week is passed his sentence will be irrevocably passed."
"Who is this man you speak of?" asked James Playfair, with an assumed carelessness.
"A journalist from Boston, a violent Abolitionist with the confounded spirit of Lincoln."
"And his name?"
"Jonathan Halliburtt."
"Poor wretch21!" exclaimed James, suppressing his emotion. "Whatever he may have done, one cannot help pitying him. And you think that he will be shot?"
"I am sure of it," replied Beauregard. "What can you expect? War is war; one must defend oneself as best one can."
"Well, it is nothing to me," said the Captain. "I shall be far enough away when this execution takes place."
"What! you are thinking of going away already."
"Yes, General, business must be attended to; as soon as my cargo of cotton is on board I shall be out to sea again. I was fortunate enough to enter the bay, but the difficulty is in getting out again. The Dolphin is a good ship; she can beat any of the Federal vessels22 for speed, but she does not pretend to distance cannon-balls, and a shell in her hull23 or engine would seriously affect my enterprise."
"As you please, Captain," replied Beauregard; "I have no advice to give you under such circumstances. You are doing your business, and you are right. I should act in the same manner were I in your place; besides, a stay at Charleston is not very pleasant, and a harbour where shells are falling three days out of four is not a safe shelter for your ship; so you will set sail when you please; but can you tell me what is the number and the force of the Federal vessels cruising before Charleston?"
James Playfair did his best to answer the General, and took leave of him on the best of terms; then he returned to the Dolphin very thoughtful and very depressed24 from what he had just heard.
"What shall I say to Miss Jenny? Ought I to tell her of Mr. Halliburtt's terrible situation? Or would it be better to keep her in ignorance of the trial which is awaiting her? Poor child!"
He had not gone fifty steps from the governor's house when he ran against Crockston. The worthy25 American had been watching for him since his departure.
"Well, Captain?"
James Playfair looked steadily26 at Crockston, and the latter soon understood he had no favourable27 news to give him.
"Have you seen Beauregard?" he asked.
"Yes," replied James Playfair.
"And have you spoken to him about Mr. Halliburtt?"
"Well, Captain?"
"Well, I may as well tell you everything, Crockston."
"Everything, Captain."
"General Beauregard has told me that your master will be shot within a week."
At this news anyone else but Crockston would have grown furious or given way to bursts of grief, but the American, who feared nothing, only said, with almost a smile on his lips:
"Pooh! what does it matter?"
"How! what does it matter?" cried James Playfair. "I tell you that Mr. Halliburtt will be shot within a week, and you answer, what does it matter?"
"And I mean it-if in six days he is on board the Dolphin, and if in seven days the Dolphin is on the open sea."
"Right!" exclaimed the Captain, pressing Crockston's hand. "I understand, my good fellow, you have got some pluck; and for myself, in spite of Uncle Vincent, I would throw myself overboard for Miss Jenny."
"No one need be thrown overboard," replied the American, "only the fish would gain by that: the most important business now is to deliver Mr. Halliburtt."
"But you must know that it will be difficult to do so."
"Pooh!" exclaimed Crockston.
"It is a question of communicating with a prisoner strictly guarded."
"Certainly."
"And to bring about an almost miraculous29 escape."
"Nonsense," exclaimed Crockston; "a prisoner thinks more of escaping than his guardian30 thinks of keeping him; that's why, thanks to our help, Mr. Halliburtt will be saved."
"You are right, Crockston."
"Always right."
"But now what will you do? There must be some plan: and there are precautions to be taken."
"I will think about it."
"But when Miss Jenny learns that her father is condemned31 to death, and that the order for his execution may come any day-"
"She will know nothing about it, that is all."
"Yes, it will be better for her and for us to tell her nothing."
"Where is Mr. Halliburtt imprisoned32?" asked Crockston.
"In the citadel," replied James Playfair.
"Just so! . . . On board now?"
"On board, Crockston!"
该作者的其它作品
《Around the World In 80 Days八十天环游地球》《神秘岛 The Mysterious Island》
《气球上的五星期 Five Weeks in a Balloon》
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1
quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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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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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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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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smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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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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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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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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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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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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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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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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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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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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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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