第 37 节
作者:蝴蝶的出走      更新:2022-08-21 16:41      字数:9322
  punished most severely。
  Unfortunately the weather was by no means hot; and it would look
  strange to take off his coat; besides; if he did so; how could he coil
  the rope round him without being observed?  So that idea was
  abandoned。  He got up and walked to an angle in the wall; and
  there sat down again; concealng the melon as well as he could
  between him and the wall when any one happened to come near
  him。  He pulled the halves apart and found; as he had suspected; it
  was but a shell; the whole of the fruit having been scooped out。
  But he gave an exclamation of pleasure on seeing that instead; as
  be feared; of a large ball of rope being inside; the interior was
  filled with neatly…made hanks; each containing several yards of
  thin but strong rope; together with a bank of strong string。
  Unbuttoning his coat; he thrust them in; then he took the melon
  rind and broke it into very small pieces and threw them about。  He
  then went up to his room and thrust the hanks; unobserved; one by
  one among the straw which; covered by an army blanket;
  constituted his bed。 To…morrow; no doubt; Dan would supply him
  somehow with a turn…screw。  On going down to the gate next day
  he found that the negro bad changed his commodity; and that this
  time his basket contained very large and fine cucumbers。  These
  were selling briskly; and Vincent saw that Dan was looking round
  anxiously; and that an expression of relief came over his face as he
  perceived him。  He had; indeed; but eight or ten cucumbers left。
  〃Cucumbers to…day; sah? Berry fine cucumbers…first…rate
  cucumbers dese。〃
  〃They look rather over…ripe;〃 Vincent said。
  〃Not a bit; sah; dey just ripe。  Dis berry fine one…ten cents dis。〃
  〃You are putting up your prices; darkey; and are making a fortune
  out of us;〃 Vincent said as he took the cucumber; which was a very
  large and straight one。  He had no difficulty with this; as with the
  melon; a sharp twist broke it in two as be reached the corner he
  had used the day previously。  It had been out in half; one end hal
  been scooped out for the reception of the handle of the turn…screw;
  and the metal been driven in to the head in the other half。 Hiding it
  under his jacket; he felt that he was now prepared for escape。
  He now asked himself whether be should go alone or take one or
  more of his comrades into his confidence; and finally determined
  to give a young Virginian officer named Geary; with whom he had
  been specially friendly during his imprisonment; and Jackson; a
  chance of escape。  He did not like the latter; but be thought that
  after the reconciliation that had taken place between them it was
  only right to take him rather than a stranger。  Drawing them aside;
  then; he told them that he had arranged a mode of escape; it was
  impossible that all could avail themselves of it; but that they were
  welcome to accompany him。  They thanked him heartily for the
  offer; and; when he explained the manner in which be intended to
  make off; agreed to try their fortune with him。
  〃I propose;〃 he said; 〃as soon as we are fairly beyond the prison;
  we separate; and each try to gain the frontier as best he can。 The
  fact that three prisoners have escaped will soon be known all over
  the country; and there would be no chance whatever for us if we
  kept together。  I will tell my boy to have three disguises ready; and
  when we once put aside our uniforms I see no reason why;
  traveling separately; suspicion should fall upon us; we ought to
  have no difficulty until at any rate we arrive near the border; and
  there must be plenty of points where we can cross without going
  anywhere near the Federal camps。〃 The others at once agreed that
  the chances of making their way separately were much greater
  than if together。  This being arranged; Vincent passed a note next
  day to Dan; telling him to have three disguises in readiness; and to
  be at the foot of the western wall; halfway along; at twelve o'clock
  on the first wet night。  A string would be thrown over; with a knife
  fastened to it。  He was to pull on the string till the rope came into
  his band; and to hold that tight until they were over。  Vincent chose
  this spot because it was equally removed from the sentry…boxes at
  the corners of the yard; and because there was a stone seat in the
  yard to which one end of the rope could be attached。
  That night was fine; but the next was thick and misty。 At nine
  o'clock all were in bed; and he lay listening to the clocks in the
  distance。  Ten struck; and eleven; and when he thought it was
  approaching twelve he got up and crept to the window。  He was
  joined immediately by the others; the turn…screw was set to work;
  and; as he expected; Vincent found no trouble whatever with the
  screws; which were not yet rusted in the wood; and turned
  immediately when the powerful screw…driver was applied to them。
  When all were out the bar was carefully lifted from its place and
  laid upon the floor。
  The rope was then put round one of the other bars and drawn
  through it until the two ends came together。  These were then
  dropped to the ground below。  Geary went first; Jackson followed;
  and Vincent was soon standing beside them。  Taking one end of
  the rope; he pulled it until the other passed round the bar and fell
  at their feet。  All three were barefooted; and they stole noiselessly
  across the yard to the seat; which was nearly opposite their
  window。  Vincent had already fastened his clasp…knife to the end
  of the string; and he now threw it over the wall; which was about
  twenty feet high。
  He had tied a knot at forty feet from the end; and; standing close to
  the wall; he drew in the string until the knot was in his hand。
  Another two yards; and he knew that the knife was hanging a yard
  from the ground against the wall。  He now drew it up and down;
  hoping that the slight noise the knife made against the wall might
  aid Dan in finding it。  In two or three minutes he felt a jerk; and
  knew that Dan had got it。  He fastened the end of the string to the
  rope and waited。  The rope was gradually drawn up; when it
  neared the end he fastened it to the stone seat。
  〃Now;〃 he said; 〃up you go; Geary。〃
  The order in which they were to ascend had been settled by lot; as
  Geary insisted that Vincent; who had contrived the whole affair;
  should be the first to escape; but Vincent declined to accept the
  advantage; and the three had accordingly tossed up for precedence。
  Geary was quickly over; and lowered himself on the opposite side。
  The others followed safely; but not without a good deal of scraping
  against the wall; for the smallness of the rope added to the
  difficulty of climbing it。 However; the noise was so slight that they
  had little fear of attracting attention; especially as the sentries
  would be standing in their boxes; for the rain was now coming
  down pretty briskly。  As soon as they were down Vincent seized
  Dan by the hand。
  〃My brave lad;〃 he said; 〃I owe you my freedom; and I sha'n't
  forget it。  Now; where are the clothes?〃
  〃Here day are; sah。  One is a rough suit; like a workingman's;
  another is a black…and…white sort of suit…a check…suit; de oder one
  is for you…a clargy's suit; sir。 You make very nice young minister;
  for sure。〃
  〃All right; Dan!〃 Vincent said laughing; 〃give me the minister's
  suit。〃
  〃Then I will be the countryman;〃 Geary said。
  There was a litte suppressed laughter as they changed their clothes
  in the dark; and then; leaving their uniforms by the wall; they
  shook hands and started at once in different directions; lest they
  might come across some one who would; when the escape was
  known; remember four men having passed him in the dark。
  〃Now; Dan; what is the next move?〃 Vincent asked as they walked
  off。  〃Have you fixed upon any plan?〃
  〃No special plan; sah; but I have brought a bag; you see I have him
  in my hand。〃
  〃I suppose that's what you carried the clothes in?〃
  〃No; sir; I carried dam in a bundle。  Dis bag has got linen; and
  boots; and oder tings for you; sah。  What I tink am de best way is
  dis。  Dar am a train pass tron here at two o'clock and stop at dis
  station。  Some people always get out。  Dar is an hotel just opposite
  the station; and some of de passengers most always go there。  I
  thought the best way for you would be to go outside the station。
  Just when the train come in we walk across de road wid the others
  and go to hotel。  You say you want bedroom for yo'self; and that
  your sarvant can sleep in do ball。 Den in de morning you get up
  and breakfast; and go off by do fust train。〃
  〃But then they may send down to look at the passengers starting;
  and I should be taken at once。〃
  〃De train go out at seven o'clock; sah。  I don't expect day find dat
  you have got away before dat。〃
  〃No; Dan。  We all turn out at seven; and I shall be missed then; but
  it will be some little time before the alarm is give