Dulcibel: A Tale of Old Salem
Page 32
CHAPTER XXXI.
A New Plan of Escape.
About this time a new plan of escape was suggested to Master Raymond;coming to him in a note from Dulcibel.
Master Philip English, one of the wealthiest inhabitants of Salem town,and his wife Mary, had been arrested--the latter a short time previousto her husband. He was a merchant managing a large business, owningfourteen houses in the town, a wharf, and twenty-one vessels. He had oneof the best dwellings in Salem--situated at its eastern end, and havinga fine outlook over the adjacent seas. He had probably offended some onein his business transactions; or, supposing that he was safelyentrenched in his wealth and high social position, he might haveexpressed some decided opinions, relative to Mistress Ann Putnam and the"afflicted children."
As for his wife, she was a lady of exalted character who had been anonly child and had inherited a large property from her father. Thedeputy-marshall, Manning, came to arrest her in the night time, duringher husband's absence. She had retired to her bed; but he was admittedto her chamber, where he read the warrant for her apprehension. Heallowed her till morning, however, placing guards around the house thatshe might not escape. Knowing that such an accusation generally meantconviction and death, "she arose calmly in the morning, attended thefamily prayers, spoke to a near relative of the best plan for theeducation of her children, kissed them with great composure, amid theiragony of cries and tears, and then told the officer that she was readyto die."
On her examination the usual scene ensued, and the usual falsehoods weretold. Perhaps the "afflicted girls" were a little more bitter than theywould have been, had she not laughed outright at a portion of theirtestimony. She was a very nice person in her habits, and it wastestified against her, that being out one day in the streets of Salemwalking around on visits to her friends during a whole morning,notwithstanding the streets were exceedingly sloppy and muddy, it couldnot be perceived that her shoes and white stockings were soiled in theleast. As we have said, at this singular proof of her being a witch, theintelligent lady had laughed outright. And this of course brought outthe additional statement, that she had been carried along on the back ofan invisible "familiar"--a spectral blue boar--the whole way. Ofcourse this was sufficient, and she was committed for trial.
And now wealthy Master Philip English and his wife were both in prison;and he daily concocting plans by which he might find himself on the deckof the fastest sailer of all those twenty-one vessels of his.
Uncle Robie had thought this might be also a good opportunity forDulcibel. And it struck Master Raymond the same way; while MasterEnglish had no objection, especially as it was mainly for Dulcibel thatthe jailer would open the prison doors. And this was better than theviolence he had at first contemplated; for, as his vessels graduallybegan to accumulate in port, owing to the interruption to his businesscaused by his arrest, he had only to give the word, and a party of hissailors would have broken open the prison some dark night, and releasedhim from captivity.
The "Albatross," Master English's fastest sailer at length came intoport; and the arrangements were speedily made. The first north-westerlywind, whether the night were clear or stormy--though of course with sucha wind it would probably be clear--the attempt was to be made,immediately after midnight. Uncle Robie was to unlock the jail-doors,let them out, lock the doors again behind them, and have a plentifulsupply of witch stories to account for the escape. And Master Raymondhad some hopes also, that Abigail Williams would come to the jailer'ssupport in anything that seemed to compromise him in the least; for hehad promised to send her a beautiful gift from England, when he returnedhome again. And with such a sharpener to the vision, the precociouschild would be able to see even more wonderful things than any she hadalready testified to.
The favorable wind came at length, and with it an exceedingly propitiousnight; there being a moon just large enough to enable them to see theirway, with not enough light to disclose anything sharply. Master Raymondhad planned all along to take Dulcibel's horse also with them; and if hecould ride the animal, it would obviate the necessity of taking anotherhorse also, and being plagued what to do with it when they arrived atthe prison. For he was very desirous that Master Putnam should not bein the least involved in the matter.
Master Raymond therefore had been practising up in the woods for about aweek, at what the minister had failed so deplorably in, the riding ofthe little black mare. At first he could absolutely do nothing with her;she would not be ridden by any male biped. But finally he adopted asuggestion of quick-witted Mistress Putnam. He put on a side saddle anda skirt, and rode the animal woman fashion--and all without the leastdifficulty. The little mare seeming to say by her behavior, "Ah, now,that is sensible. Why did you not do it before?"
So, late on the evening appointed for the attempted escape, after takingan affectionate leave of his host and hostess, and putting a fewnecessary articles of apparel into a portmanteau strapped behind thesaddle, Master Raymond started for Salem town.
Leaving the village to the right, he made good time to the town, meetingno one at that late hour. He had covered the mare with a largehorse-blanket, so that she should not easily be recognized by any onewho might happen to meet them. There was a night watchman in Salem town;but a party of sailors had undertaken to get him off the principalstreet at the appointed hour, by the offer of refreshments at one oftheir haunts; and by this time he was too full of Jamaica spirits towalk very steadily or see very clearly.
Arrived at the prison, Master Raymond found the Captain and mate of the"Albatross" impatiently awaiting him. It was not full time yet, but theyconcluded to give the signal, three hoots of an owl; which the mate gavewith great force and precision. Still all seemed dark and quiet asbefore.
Then they waited, walking up and down to keep the blood in their veinsin motion, as the nights were a little cool.
"It is full time now," said the Captain, "give the signal again, Brady."
Brady gave it--if anything with greater force and precision than before.
But not a sign from within.
Had the jailer's courage given away at the last moment? Or could he havebetrayed them? They paced up and down for an hour longer. It was evidentthat, for some reason or other, the plan had miscarried.
"Well, there is no use awaiting here," exclaimed the Captain of the"Albatross" with an oath; "I am going back to the ship."
Master Raymond acquiesced. There was no use in waiting longer. And so here-donned his petticoat--much to the amusement of the seamen and startedback to Master Putnam's arriving there in the darkest hours of thenight, just before the breaking of the day.