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CAS S E L I,'S RED I~ I BRA. R V,

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OUR AND

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THE nights of August arc in St. Domingo the hottest of the year. 'I'he winds then cease to befrient] the punting inhabitants; and while tho thermometer stands at 90°, there is no steady breeze, as during the preceding months of summer. Light puffs of wind now and then fan the brow of the negro, and relieve for an instant the oppression of the European scttlcr ; but they arc gone as soon as come, and SCCln only to have left the heat more iutolern 1)10 than before.

Of these sultry evenings, one of the sultriest was the 22ncl of .... t\_ugnst, 1791. This was one of five days appointed for rejoicings in the town of Cap Frnncais festivities nUlong the French and Creole inhabitants, who were as ready to rejoice on appointed occasions ns the dulness of colonia l Iifc renders natural, but who would hare hern yet 1no1'O lively than they were if tho date of their festival har] been in .Iauuary or 1\Iay. There was no choice as to the date, however. They were governed in regard to their celebrations by whnt happened at Pnris; aud never had the proceedings of the 111ot11('r country been so iruportnnt to the colony (15 110,",.

During the preceding year, the white proprietors of St.

Domingo, who had hailed 'lith louel voices the revolutionary doctrines before which royalty had begun to succumb in France, wore astonished to find their cries of Liberty ancl Equality adopted hy 80111e who haclno business with such ideas and words, The mulatto 11roprictors und merch.mts of the island innocently understood the words according' to their commouly received meaning, and expected an equal share 'with the whites in the rcprcseututiou of the colony, in the distribution of its offices, and in the civil rights of its iuhahitunts generally. These rights haying been denied hy the whites to the frocborn mulattocs, with eyery possible manifestation of contempt and dislike, fin effort

10

THE HOUI? AND THE frfAN.

had been made to wring from the whites by force what they would not grant to reason; find an ill-principled and ill.lnauaged revolt had taken place, in the preceding October, headed by Vincent Oge and his brother, Sons of the proprietress of a coffee plantation, a :few miles from Cap Francais. Tpesc young men were executed, under circumstances of great barbarity. Their sufferings were as seed SO'Vll in the warm bosoms of their COIUpanions and adherents, to spring up, in due season, in a harvest of vigorous revenge. The whites suspected this ; and were as anxious as their dusky neighbours to obtain the friendship and sanction of the revolutionary gOyernUlent at home. That government was fluctuating in its principles and in its counsels; it favoured now Due party, and llOlV the other; and all the arrival of its messengers at the ports of tho colony, there ensued sometimes the loud boastings of the whites, and sometimes quiet, knowing smiles and whispered congratulations among the depressed section of the inhabitants.

The cruelties inflicted on Vincent Oge had interested many influential persons in Paris in tho cause of the mulattoes. Great zeal was exercised in attempting to put them in It condition to protect themselves by equal la.wB, find thus to restrain the tyranny of the whites, The Abbe Gregoire pleaded for them in the Nai,ional Assembly; and on the 15th of Thlarch was passed the celebrated decree which gave tho mulattoes the privileges of French citizens, even to the enjoyment of tho suffrage, and to the possession of seats in the parochial and colonial assemblies. To Europeans there appears nothing extraordinary in t.he allmission to these civil functions of freeborn persons, InallY of whom were wealthy, and llHlUY educated; but to tho whites of St.. Domingo the decree was ouly less trciueudous than the rush of t110 11 urricane.

It arrived at Cap Francais OIl tho 30th of June, and the tidings presently spread. At first, no one believed them but the muIat toes. When it was no longer possible to doubt-when the words of Robespierre passed from mouth to mouth, till even the nuns told them to one another in the convent garden "Perish the colonies, rather than sacrifice one iota of our principles!" the whites trampled the national cockade under their feet ill the streets, countermanded their orders for the fcte of tho 14th of July (as they now declined taking the civic oath), and proposed to one another to offer their colony and their allegiance to

England. '

They found Jl1CHn8, however, to gratify their love of l)OW'CI", and their class.hatrod, by means short of treason. 'I'hoy tried disobedience first, as tho milder method, The governor of the colony, Blanchelande, promised that w hen the decree should reach him officially, he would neglect it, and all applications

r

IN SUSPENSE.

I I

from any quarter to have it enforced. 'I'his set all straight. Blanchelande was pronounced a sensible and patriotic mau. The gentlemen shook hands warmly 1rith him at every turn; tho ladies made deep and significant curtseys wherever tlley met him; the boys taught their little negroes to huzza at tho name of Blanchelaude , and the little girls called him a dear creature. In order to Iose no tdme in showing that t.hey meant to make laws for their own colony out of t,heir 0"'11 heads, and no others, the white gentry hastened on the election of deputies for a new GCllcloal Colonial Assembly. The deputies were elected, and met, to the number of a hundred ana seventy-six, at Lcogane, in the southern region of the island, so early as the 9th of August. After exchanging goreetings and YO,\YS of fidelity to their class .. interests, under the name of l)atriotisrn, they adjourned their assembly to the 25th, when they were to meet at Cap Frall~uis. It was desirable to hold their very important session in the 1110st iurportaut place ill the colony, the centre of iutclligeuco, the focus of news from Europe, and the spot where they had first sympnthiscd with the uugratcful gOYCrlHueut at horne, hy hoisting, with their own white hands, t.he cap of lihel't-y, and shouting", so that the world lllight hear, " Liberty and Equulity! " " Down "it.h 'I'yranuy ! "

By tho 20th, the deputies were congrt·gnfed at Cap Franeais , and daily till the great 25t.h 'were tl1cy seen to confer together in coteries in the shady piazzas, or in the Jesuits' Walk, in the morning, and to dine together in parties in the afternoon, admitting friends and well-wishers to these tavern dinners. Each day till the 25th was to be a fete-day in the town and neighbourhootl; and of these days the hot 2~nd "as ono.

Among these friends and we ll-wislicrs were the whites upon all the plantations in the lleighbourhood of the town. There was scarcely all estate in the Plaine du K ord, or on the mountain steeps which overlooked the cape, town, and bay, on all sides but the north, which (lid not furnish guests to these dinners. The proprietors, their bailiffs, the clergy, the magistrates, lllight all be seen along the roads, in t he cool of HIe morning; and there was a holiday air about the estates they left behind. The negroes were left for this "reck to do their work pretty much as they liked, or to do none at all. There was little time to think of

thorn, aud of ordinary business, "Then there were the mulattoes to be ostentatiously insulted; and the mother country to be defied. Se tho negroes slept at n0011, and danced fit night, during these few August days, find oven had Ieave to visit one another to as gr(\[l t an ext cut as was eyer allowed. Perhaps they :1180 transacted other affairs of which their masters had little suspicion.

AIl that eyer ""US allowed was permitted to the slaves 011 tho Breda estate, in tho plain, a few miles f1'u111 Cap Francais. 'I'he

12

attorney, or bailiff of the estate, 1\1. Bayou de Libcrtas, was a kind-hearted mall, who, while insistiug very peremptorily on his political and social rights, and vehemently denouncing all abstract enmity to them, liked that peopl~ actually about him should have their own way. While rnusacking his brain for terms of abuse to vent on Lafayette find Condorcet, he rarely found anything harsh to utter when Caton got drunk, and spoiled his dinner; when V euus sent, up his linen darker than it went down to the quarter, or when little Maehabee picked his pocket of small coin. Sueh a. man was, of course, particularly busy this week , and of course, the slaves under his clutrge were particularly idle, and par tieularly likely to hale friends from other plantations to visit tllClll.

Some such visitor seemed to be expected by a family of these Breda negroes, on tho 1tlonday evening', the 2211d. This family did not Iivo In tho slave-quarter. 'I'liey had a. cottage near the stables, us Tonssaint Breda had been l'rI. Bayou's postillion, and, when he 1YHS lately promoted to be overseer, it was found convenient to all partics tha t ]10 should retain his dwelling, vdlieh had been enlaraed and arlomerl so as to accord with tho

"-

dignity of his new office. III the piazza of his clwelliug sat'

'I'onssaint this evening. evidently waiting for some one to arr'ive ; for he frequently put down llis book to listen for footsteps, and 1110I~O than once walked round tI10 house to Iook abroad, His wife, who was within, cooking supper, and his daughter and little boy, who were beside him in the piazza, observed his restlessness; for 'I'oussaint ''''HS a great reader, and seldom looked off the pa'ge £01' a moment of any spare hour that he Inight have for reading either the books 1\1. Bayou lent him, or the three or four volumes which he had been pcrmittr-d to purchaso for ]1 ]111SCJf .

• ' Do you sec J can?;' asked the wife from within. H Shall ,YO wait supper for him ? "

';' Wait a little longer," said Tonssaint. "It will be strange if he does not come.'

" Arc :illy Jll0TC- of Latour's PCOI)lo coming with Jean, mother P " asked Gcnifredc, from the piazza.

"No; they have a supper at Latour's to-night; and lYO should not ha to thought of iuviting J ean, but that lIe wants some convcrsntion with your futhcr."

" Lift me up," eric(l tho little hoy, W Ito was trying ill YUill to scramble up one of the posts of the piazza, ill orrlcr to reach a huuuning- hirers nest, w hich hung in the tendrils of a creeper overhead, and 'which a light puff of wint] now set swillgillg', so as to attract the child's eye. ,Vhat child ever saw a Inuruuinjrbird thus rocking" its hill stickiujr out like a lOllg" needle on one side, and its t;til at the other, 'wit hou t longing to clutch it?

• r

So Denis cried out imperiously to be lifted up. His father set him on the shelf within the piazza, whore the calabashes were kept a station whence he could sec into tho nest" and watch tho bird, without being able to touch it. This "as not alt ogcthcr satisfactory. The little fellow looked about him for a calabash to throw at the nest; hut his mother had carried ill all her cups for the service of the supper-table. As no more wind caine at his call, he could only blow with all his Bligh t, to swing the tenrlri l again; aud he ,YUS amusinjr Iiimsclf thus "hen his futhcr laid down his book, and stepped out to sec once 1110ro whether Jean was approaching.

" Lift rue dO'YIl," said the boy to his sister, when his hcnrl was giddy with blowing'. Genifl'cde would fain have let him stay where he \YUS, out of the way of mischief; hut she saw that he was really afraid of fulling, and she offered her shoulders for him to descend upon. When do \1'"11 , she would not let him touch her work ; she took her scissors from his busy hands, find shook him off when he tried to pun the snowbcrrjos out of her hair; so that there was nothing left for t~J.Q child to l)lay with but his father's book. lIe was turr.inrr it oyer, when Tonssaiut reappeared.

" Ha! boy, a book in yonr hands already? I Iropo you may have as much comfort out of that book as I have had, Denis."

" What is it P what is it, about? " said the boy, 'who had heard many a story out of books from his father.

'" What is it ? Let us sec. I think you know letters enough to spell it out for yourself. Come and try."

'I'he child knew the letter E, and, with a good deal of help,

made out, at last, Epictetus.

" Wha]. is that P " asked tho boy.

" Flpictotus was a negro," said GClllfredc, complacently,

'" Not a ncgro," said her father, SllliIillg. "He was a slave : but 110 was a white.'

" Is that the reason you rend that book so much more than

finyother?"

" Pnrtly; hut partly because I like whnt is ill it." " What is ill it any stories? " asked Denis.

H It is all about bearing and forbearing. It has taught me many things which you w ill have to learn by-and-by, I shall teach you some of them out of this book."

Denis made all haste a,Yuy from the promised instruction, ana his father wus presently again absorbed in his book. F'rom respect to him, Genifrede kept Denis quiet by siglls of admouition; and for some little fime nothing was heard but the sounds that in the plains of St. Domiug'o never cease the humming and buzzing of myriads of insects, tho occasional chattering or monkeys in a neighhouring wood, nnd, with a passing gust, n

14

THE HOUR Ai\TD THE MAN.

chorus or frogs from a distant S\YUU1p. Unconscious of this din, from being accustomed always to hear more or less of it, the boy amused himself with chasing the fireflies, whose light began to glance around as darkness descended. His sister was poring over her work, which she was just finishing, when a gleam of greenish light made both look up. It came from a large meteor which sailed past towards the mountains, whither were tending also the huge masses of. cloud which gnther about ths high peaks previous t,O the season of rain and hurricanes. There was nothing surprising in this meteor, for the sky was full of thCIU in August nights; hut it was very beautiful. The globe of green light floated on till it burst above the mountains, illuminating the lower clouds, and revealing" a.long the slopes of tho uplands the coffee.groves, waving and bowing their heads in the wandering winds of that high region. Gcnifrcde shivered at the sight, and her brother threw himself upon her lap. Before he had asked half his questions about the lights of the sky, the short twilight was gOllO, and tho evening star cast a faint shadow from the tufted posts of the piazza npon the white wall of the cottage. In a Iow tone, full or nwe, Genifredc told the hoy such stories as she had heard from her father of the mysteries of the heavens. He felt Ihat she trembled as she told of the northern lights, which had been actually seen by 80111e travelled persons now ill Cap Francais. It took some timo and arg!ll11cnt to gi'To him an idea of cold countries; but his uncle Paul, the fisherluau, had seen hail on the coast, only thirty miles £1'0111 hcnco : and this was a great step in the evidence. Denis listened with all clue belief to his sister's description of those pale lights shooting up over the sky, till he cried out vehemently, "'llhcre they are ! look!"

Gt~lli£rcdo screamed, and covered her face with her hands; while the boy shouted to his father, and ran to call his mother to sec tho lights.

What they saw, however, was little like the pale, cold rays of the aurora borealis. It was a fiery red, which, shining to some height in the air, ",'as covered in by a canopy of s1110ke.

" Look up! Gcnifrcde," said her father, laying his hand upon her head. "It is a fire a cane-field on fire.'

"And houses, too- the sugar-house, no doubt,' said Margot, who had come out to look. "It burns too red 10 be canes ouly. Can it be at Latour's ~ That would keep J can from cOllling.----It was the best supper I ever got ready £01' him."

"Latour's is oyer that way,' said 'I'oussaiut pointing SOHIC distance further to the south-east, "But sec! there is fire there, too! Goel have lllercy ! "

He was silent, in mournful fear that he know now too well the reason why Jean had not come, and the nature of the conversation

REBELLION.

15

Jean had desired to have with llim. As he stood with folded arms looking from the one conflagration to the other, Genifrcde clung to him trembling with terror. In a quarter of an hour another blaze appeared on the horizon; and. soon after, a fourth,

" 'The sky is on fire," cried Denis, in 11101'8 delight than fear.

"Look at the clouds!" And tho clouds did indeed show, throu.ghout their l1UgO pile, some a mild flame colour, and others

a hard crimson edge, as during a stormy sunset. '

HAlas! alas ! this is rebellion," said Toussaint; "rehellion against God and man. God have mercy l The whites have risen against their king'; find now the blacks rise agaiust them, in turn. It is a great sin. God have mercy 1 "

l\Iargot wept bitterly. " 011, wliat shall we do ? H she cried, "What will beC0111C of us, if there is a rebellion? "

" Be cheerful, and fear nothing," replied her hushancl. " I have not rebelled, and I shall not. 1\1. Bayou has t-anght 1110 to hear and forbear yes, nly boy, as this book says, and as the book of Goel says : We will be faithful, and fear nothing."

" But they nItly burn this plantation," cried Mnrgot. " They Illfly come here, and take you ct\vay. They may ruin ::1\1. Bayou, and then ',0 U1UY be sold R\Vtly; we mny be parted _, " "

Her grief choked her words,

"Fear nothing," said her husband, with calm authority. " We are in God's hand; and it is a sin to fear His will, But see! there is another fire, over towards tho town."

Ana he called aloud the uame of his eldest son, saying' he should send tl}(~ boy with a horse to meet his master. He himself D1USt remain to watch at home.

Placide did not come when called, nor was he at the stables, He was gOlle sorno way off, to cut fresh grass for the cattle - a common night-labour on the plantation.

" Call IstHH?, then," said Toussaint.

"Rull, Genifrcde," said her mother. "Isaac and Aimee aro in the wood. Run, Genifrcdc."

Gcnifredc did not obey. She was too much terrified to leave tho piazza alone; though her fltther gently asked when she, his eldest daughter, and almost a ,\y 0 man, would leave off being scared on all occasions like a child. Murgot went herself ~ so far infected with her daughter's fears as to be glad to take little Denis iti'll£~r hand. She was not long gone. As soon as she entered the wood she heard ,the sound of her children's laughter above the noise the monkeys made : and she 'was guided by it to the well. There, in the midst of the opening which let ill the starlight, stood the wen, surrounded by the only grass on tho Breda estate that was always fresh and green; and there were Isaac and his inseparable companion, Aimee, making the grass

greener by splashing each other with more than half the water

16

they drew. Their bright eyes and teeth could be seen by the mild light" as they were too busy with their sport to heed their mother as she approached. She soon made them serious witl: her news. Isaac flew to help his father with the horses, "while Aimee, a stout girl of twelve, assisted her mother in earnest to draw water, and carry it home.

They found Gcnifrede crouehing alone in a corner of tho piazza. In another minute Toussa.int appeared on horseback, leading a saddled horse.

"I am going for M. Bayon myself,' said he; adding, as he glanced round the lurid horizon, "it is not a night for boys to be abroad. I shall be back ill an hour. If ].f. Bayou comes by the new road, tell him that I am gone by 1Iadal;lc Oge's. i£ fh'e breaks out here, go into the wood, If I meet Placido, I will senrl him home.'

He disappeared tinder tho Iimes in the avenue; and his fami ly llcarcl t1~e pace of the horses quicken iuto a gallop before tho s:Y: .. rud (hedtHyny npOll the road.

C II jt PTE R I I .

TIIB EXCLUSIVES.

THE party of deputies with Wl10111 :IvI. Bayou was diuing were assembled at the great hotel, at tho corner of Place ~Iont Archer, at Cap Francais. Languidly, though gladly, did the guests, especially those from the country, cnter the hotel, overpowering as was the heat of the roads and the streets. In the roads, the sand lay 80 deep, that the progress of horsemen "was necessarily slow, while the suu seemed to shed dowu a deluge of flame. In the streets, there was the shelter of the piazzas; but their pillars, if accidentally touched, seemed to burn the hand; and the hum of traffic, aud the sound of feet, appeared to in" crease the oppression caused by the weather, Within the hotel, fill was comparatively cool and quiet. The dining and drawing rOOJllS occupied by the guests adjoined each other, and presented none but the most 'VCICOllI0 images. The jalousies 'were nearly closed; and tbrough the small spaces that ",'ere left open, there Inight be seen ill one direction tho fountain playing ill tho middle of the Place, and in the other, diagonally across the Rue Espagnole, the Jesuits' Walk, an oblong square laid down in grass, and shaded in the midst by an avenue of palms. Immediately opposite the hotel was the Convent of Religieuscs, oyer w hose garden wall more trees were seen; so that the guests

..

17

might easily have forgotten thnt they 1vere in the l11idst of a town,

The rooms were so dark t hat those who en tered from the glare of the streets could at first see nothing. The floor was dark, being of native mahogany, polished like a looking-glass. The walls "ere green, t he furniture green everything ordered in counteraction of light and heat. In the dining-room more was visible : there was the white cloth spread oyer the long range of tables, and the plate find glass, glittering" in such light as was allowed to enter; and also the gildecl lialustrnde of tho gallery, to be used to-day as an orchestra. This gallery was canopied over, as was the seat of the c Iiairman, with palm branches and evergreens, intermixed witli fragrant shrubs, and flowers of all hues. A huge bunch of peacocks' Feathers was suspended from the lofty ceiling , and it was waved incessantly to and fro, by strings pulled hy two litt Ie 11Pgrocs, at opposite rnrners of the room, causing' a continual fanning' of the air, and circulation of the perfumes of the flowers. The black band in the orchestra summoned tho company to dinner, and entertained them while fit it by playing the popular revolutionary airs which were then resounding through the colony Iike the hum of its insects, or the dash of its waterfalls. As they took their scats to the ail' of t,he "~Iarscillaise HYll1U," more than one of tho guests 111ight be heard by his next neighbour singing to himself,

" Allons, enfans de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive. "

Before politics, however, there W11S dinner to be attended to; and the first.fruits of the eloquence of the meeting was bestowed on the dol icnte turtle, the well-fattened Iaud- crabs, and the rich pasties= ou the cold wines, the refreshing jellies, and the piles of oranges, figs, and nlrnonds, pomegranates, melons, and pine-apples. The first vote of compliment was to Henri, the black cook from St. Christophe, whence he had been brought oyer by tho discerning hotel-keeper, who detected his culinary genius while Henri was yet but a lad. When the table was ('lcill'ed, a request was sent up to the chairman from various parties at the table, that he would command Henri's attendance, to receive the testimony of the company respecting the dinner he had sent up, and to take a glass of wine from them,

Dr. Protean, the chairmau.amiliugly agreed, saying that such a tribute was no more than Henri's professional excellence and high reputation deserved; and Henri was accordingly summoned by a dozen of the grinning black wait ers , who ran over one another in their haste to carry to the kitchen the message of these, the highest. gentry of the land. The waiters presently

B

IS

T/ili~ 110[lR /1,\'D THE A-fAi\l.

poured into the room again; and stood in two rows from the door, where Henri appeared, not laughing like the rest, but per£ect1y grave, as he stood, white apron 011, and napkin over Iiis arm, his stout and tall figure erect, to receive the commands of his masters.

"'Vas your father a cook or a gourmand, Henri? Or arc you all good cooks at St. Christophe?" asked a deputy.

" If it is the air of St. Christophe that makes men such cooks as Henri, the knights of St. John of Malta had a goodly gift in it," said another.

H Can one get such another as you for money, Henri?" asked a third.

"Hoy{ l'nuny boys has your wife brought you, Henri? \Ve shal] bid high for them, and make your master's fortune, if 110 trains them nIl to your profession," said a fourth.

" Tell your master he had better not part with you for any sum, Henri. We will make it worth his while to refuse more for you than was ever offered yet.'

" Your health, Henri! May yon Iive out all the turtle now in St. Domingo, and the next generation after them."

Amidst all these questions and remarks, Henri escaped allswering any. He stood looking on the ground, till a glass of ehampngne was bl'OUg]lt to him, bowed to the compally~ drank it off, and was gone.

" How demure the fellow looks 1 " said M. Papalier, a planter, to Bayou, his neighbour in the plain, who now sat opposite to him; "what an air of infinite modesty he put on ! At this moment, I daresay he is snapping bis fingers, and telling t.he women that all the money in St. Domingo won't buy him."

" Y au are mistaken there," said Bayou. "He is a singular f'el low, is Henri, ill more ways than Iiis cookery. I believe J1t:' never snapped his fingers in his life, nor told auybody what his muster ga YC for him. I happen to know Henri ycry well, from his being an ucquainianec of IUY overseer, who is something of the same sort, only superior even to Henri."

"The fellow looked as if he would have giyen a great. deal more than his glass of wine to have stayed out of the room," observed M. Leroy. "He has nothing of the mulatto in him, 113S he P Pure African, I suppose."

"Pure African all safe," replied Bayou. "But observe! the music has stopped, and we are going on to the business of the day. Silence, there! Silence, all! "

Everybody said" Silence! " and Dr. Protean rose.

He declared himself to be in ~\ most remarkable situation - one in which he was sure every Frenchman present would synlpathise with lrim. Here he stood, chairman of a meeting of the most loyal, the most spirited, the most l)atriotic citizens of the

DR. PROTEAU'S SPEliCH.

empire, chairman or an assemblage of members of a colonial parliament, und of their guests and fricuds here he stood, in this capacity, and yet he wus unable to propose auy one of the loyal toasts by which it had, till l101Y, been customary to sane. tion their social festivities. As f01- the toast, now never more to be heard from their lips tho health of the king and royal fanlily tho less that was said about that the better. The fiines of oppression were passing tHvay; and he, for one, would not dim the brightness of the present meeting by recalling £1'0111 the horizon, where it was just disappearing, the tempest cloud or tyranny, to overshadow the young sunshine of freedom. There had been, however, another toast, to which they had been wont to respond with more enthusiasm than was ever ""011 by despotic monarchy from its slaves.' There had been a toast to which this lofty roof had rung again, and to hail which every voice had been loud, and every heart had beat high. N either could he now propose that toast. With grief which consumed his soul, he was conrpclled to bury ill silence the silence of ruortiflcation, the silence of contempt, the silence of detestation-c-the name of tho National Assembly of France. His language might appea.r strong; but it. was nrild, it 1YUS moderate ; it 'vas, he might almost say, cringing, III compm-ison with what the National ASSC1Ubly had deserved. He need Hot occupy the time of his friends, nor harrow their feelings, by a narrative of the injuries their colony had sustained at the hands of the French National Assembly. Those around hhn knew too well, that in return for their sympathy in the humbling of a despot, for their zeal in behalf of the eternal principles of freedom, the mother country had, through the instrumentality of its National Council, endeavoured to strip its faithful whites in this colony of the pow·er which they had always possessed, and which was essential to t heir verv existence ill their ancient

...

prosperity the exclusive power of making or enforcing Iaws

for their own community, The attempt wns now made, as they too well knew, to wrest this sacred privilege from their hands, by admitting to share it a degraded race, before whoso inroads would perish all that was most dear to his fellow -citizeus aud to himself the r01)ose of their homes, the security of t heir IH"operty, the honour of their colour, and the prosperi ty of the colony. He rejoiced to see around hirn, and from his heart he bade them welcome, some fellow-labourers with himself in the glorious work of resisting oppression, and defending' their ancient privileges] endeared to them by as many ages as had passed since distincfions of colour were uiarle by an Ahnjght.r hand. He invited them to pledge theruselvea with him to denounce and resist such profane, such blasphemous innovations, proposed by shallow enthusiasts, seconded by designing knaves, and destined

B 2

20

THE E-JOUR ... 4i\~D THE J.lfA~V.

to bo \,rought out by the agency of de1110nS demons in luunan form. He called upon all pat.riots to join him in his pledge ; and in token of their faith, to drink deep to one now more doserving of their homage t.han was eyer king OJ· National Assemhly he need not say that he alluded to the noblest patriot in the colony its guardian, its saviour GOYel"llOr Blanchelande,

The gentleman who rose, amidst the cheers and jingling of glasses, to say a few words to this toast; ""'8..8 a man of some importance in the colony as a member of its Assembly, though he otherwise held no higher rank than that of attorney to the estate of M. Gallifct, a rich absentee. Odoluc was an old resident" and (tuough zealous for the privileges or the whites) a favourite with 111Cll of all colours, and therefore entitled to he listened to hy all ,,,itlt atteut iouv wheu he spoke on tho cOHtiietiug interests of races. HO"Tl'YC'l' his opinions Illig-ht please or displease, all l ikcd to look upon his hright couutcunnco, una to hear llis Ih·ely voicr-. Vincent Oge had said that Odeluc was a worse foe to tho mulattoes than mauy a worse mau-e-he always so excited their good.

wil! as to make them forget their rights. ..

As he now' 1'08(", the air froui tho peacock .. full stirring the white hair upon his forehead (£01' in the heats of St. Domingo it was permitted to lay wigs aside), and the good wine animat.ing yet further the spirit of his lively countenauce, Odeluc \VHS received with a murmur of welcome, before he opened his lips to speak,

" I must acknowledge, my fellow-citizeus," saicl he, "I never was more satisfied with regard to the state of our colony than HOW. ,"V e have had our troubles, to be sure, like the mother country, and like all countries where portions of the people struggle for p01'fCr which they onght not to have. But \ve hare sl,ttlec1 t.ha t matter for oU1'8e1Y(l8, hy tlie help of our good GOYPL'- 11 f J r ~ ~t 11 t I I fi_ 111111 Y'- 1) (~ 1 i (~ "\ (~ t J I at, , - ( ~ (l r l ~ n t tl I (~ co III III (to 11 C f J J 1 e 11 t o f ft

....

long age of peace."

.Here some applauded,while two or three shook their hear]«.

O(_1t~111C coutiuued-s-

.. I sec SOI110 of Illy friends do not altogether share Iny hopes.

Y et arc these hopes not, rcasouablo P The Governor has 'himself assured me that nothing" shall induce him to notice the obnoxious decree, till he has, in the first place, received it under all the official forms ill the next plaee, written his remonstrance to the gOYel'lllnent at home aud, ill the third place. received au answer. N()"T, nll this will take some time. III three davs, wo deputies shall begin our Hession; and never were the membc: S of any assembly DIOl'e uuited ill their wil] and in their views, and llwTefore more powerful. W P mer-t for the express purpose o£ JU'lltralisillg the effects of this ill-judged decree; lye have t JH~ po,,'er ,ye have the will- ana who ran doubt the rt-sults ]' 'I'he In:HJ:lg'()I11f::'llt of this colony has always succced.«] we-ll in the

21

hands of the wlrites ; they havo made its hF\VS, ana cllfol'l"et1 t hem they have allowed the people of colour liberty to pursue their own business, and acquire property if they could, conscious of. streng-th to restrain their excesses, if occasion should arise:

Hurl, as for the negro population, where in tho world were nffaiJ'~ e,er on a het ter footing between the mastors aurl their force than ill the colony of St. Domingo ? If all has worked so well ]lithprto. is it. to he supposed that an ignorant shout in the National As. Sf'lllhly, and a piece of paprr sent OYer to lIS theHf'{\ (":111 dest,roy the Jinrmony, and overthrow the l)l'osperHy 1yhieh years lin vo eonfirllled? I, £01' one, will never be1ioyc H. I sec heforo me ill Iny ("oUl)agnes men to whom t]18 tra nqu illify of t.ho colony Jllny be safr ly confidcd , aud over their heads, and hcyond tho wise laws they are about. to pass fnr the hcncfit of both tho supreme ~l1HI suliordiuate iute rcst s of OUt· connnuuity, I set" st retr-hing heyonu the reneh of livins; Pyf\ n ser-uo of cal m 31Ill

fruitful prosl)('rity ill ,yhich OUl' clrilrlren's children Hltty enjoy their live'S, without a thought of fpar or apprehension of chnnsre. Regarding GOYCl'llOr Bluuchclande [lS one of the' chief securities of this our IOlJg' tenure of social prosperity, I IJ(_.lg t o proposc1 not only that we shall now drink his health, hut that we shall uieet annually in his honour on this day. Y onder is Government House. If we open our jalousies wide enough, and giyc the honours loudly enough, perhaps our voices lllay reach his e a 1":5 , as the loyal greeting that he deserves."

.Ii Do not you smell smoke? " asked Bayou of his neighbour, as the blinds were thrown open.

"What a smell of burning! " observed the chairmau to Odcluc at tIle same III oment.

" They arc burning field.trash outside the town, no doulif.."

Odclue answered. " 'Ve choose the nights when there is Iittle wi nr], von know, for that work."

..

'There was a sma ll muster of soldiers rnund the gil tes f)f

Government House, and sevr-ral people in the streets, when the honours were ghTeu to tho G OYf'l"1l01"S nnme, But t he fir.,d~ seemed not to hen r, and tJIO othors did not t urn thr-ii' 11cil(_ls. TIle air that caine in was so hot, tlJat tllG blill(ls wore innuediatolv ordered to be closed ag·aiu. The waiters, however, Set'IUea to have lost their obscquiousuess, find 11lfiUY orders aud oat hs were spent upon them before they did their duty.

While t.he other gent.lemen sat down. a young man reruniucd standing, his eyes flashing; and his countenance heated, either by wine, or by the thoughts with which he seemed big.

" ~Iy fel low-citizens," said 1\'1. Brellc, beginning in a ycry loud voice, "agreeing' as I do in Illy hopes for this colony with 1.1. Odeluc, and, like him, t.rustil1g in the proteeHon ana blessing of H .. just Providence, whic]: w ill preserve our rjghts, and chastise

22

those who would infringe them ~-£celing thus, and thns trust. ing, there is a duty for me to perfornl. My friends, we must not 11ernlit the righteons chastisements of Providence to pass by unheeded, and be forgotten. The finger of Providence has been among us, to mark out and punish the guilty disturber of our peace. But, though dead, that guilty traitor has not ceased to disturb our peace. Do we not know that his groans have moved our enemies in the National Assembly "that his ashes have been stirred up there, to shed their poison over our names ? It becomes us, in gratitude to a preserving Providence, in fidelity to that which is dearer to us than life our fair fame -in regnrll

....

to the welfare of our posterity, it becomes us to mark our

reprobation of treason and rebellion, and to perpetuate ill ignominy the name of the rebel and the traitor, Fill your glasses, then, gentlemen, and drink drink doep with me - Our curse on the memory of Vincent Ogc ! "

Several members of the eonlpany eagerly filled their glasses; others looked doubtfully towards the chair. Before Dr. Protean seemed to have made Ul) his mind what to do, 1.1:. Papalier hf\d risen, saying, in a rather Iow and conversational tone -

" My young friend will allow me to suggest to him the expediency of wi thdrawing his toast, as one ill which his fellow' ~ citizens cannot all cordially join. 1vV e all unite, doubtless, in reprobating treason and rebellion in the person of Oge , but I, for one, cannot think it good, either ill taste or in policy, to curse the nleul0ry of the dead in tho hearing of those who desire mercy for their fallen enemies (us some here present do), or of others who look npon Oge as 110 criminal. hut a mm-tyr-e-which is, I fear, the ease with too many outside." He pointed to the windows as he spoke, where it 110,,1" appeared that the jalousies ]1:H1 heeu pushed a little open, RO as to ullow opportunity for some ohscrvation from without. 1\1. Papniicr lowered his tone, so as to be heard, during the rest of his speech, only hy those who made every effort to catch his words, Not a syllable could he heard in tho orchestra outside, or even by the waiters ranged against the wall; and the chairman and others at the extremities of the table were obliged to lean forwards to catch tho meaning of the speaker, who proceeded-e-

" N 0 one more heartily admires the spirit and good-humour of our friend, M. Odeluc, than myself": no one more enjoys being animator] by the hilarity of 1lis temper, and carried away by the hopeful enthusiasm which makes him the dispenser of happiness that he is. But I cannot always sympathise in his bright anticipations. I own I cannot to-day. He may be right. God grant he be so! But I cannot take J.\I. Odelue's word for it, when words so different are spoken elsewhere. There are observers at a distance-hnpartial lookers-on, who predict (and

IMPE1VDfNG DA1VGER.

23

I fear there nrc signs at 1101110 which indicate) that onr position is far from secure our prospects fur other than sereno. There aloe those who believe that we are in danger froni other foes than the race of Oge; and facts have arisen but enough. This is not the time find place for discussion of that point. Suffice it now that as we all know, observers at a distance ran of tie 11 see deeper and farther than those involved in affairs; and that Miraheau has said - and what Mirabcan savs is, at least" worth

...

attention- Mirabcan has said of 11S, in connection with the events

of last October, ' They are sleeping on the margin of Vesuvius, find the first jets of tho volcano are not, suflicient to awaken them.' In compliment to l\Iirabeau~'" he concluded, smil ing , and bowing to 1\1. Brellc, "jf not in sympathy with what he may think llly needless cant ion, 1 hope my YOIUlg friend will reserve his wine for t }]O next, toast.'

],1. Brello bowr-tl, rather sulkily. N" 0 one scr-incrl ready at the 1110111 en t, to star] fl now subject. SOJll0 nttarkcd ~I. Papalier in whispers for what he had said; and he to defelld himself', told, also in whispers, facts of the l11urdcr of it hniliff on an estate near his own, and of suspicious circumstnuccs nth"llldillg" it, which Ina-do him (uul others llpprclJeud that nll 1YtlS not l·jght Rlllong the negroes, His facts and surmises went round. As, in the eagerness of conversation, a few words were occasionally spoken aloud, some of tho party glanced about to see jf the waiters were within earshot. They were not. 'I'here was not a negro in the apartment. Tho band had gono out unnoticed; to refresh themselves, no doubt.

Odeluc took the brief opportunity to state his confidence that all doubts of the fidelity of the negroes were groundless. He agreed with M. Papalier that the present was not the time and place for entering at large into tho subject. He would only just say that he was now fill old man, that he had spent his life among the people alluded to, and knew them well, if any man did. They were revengeful, certainly, upon occasion, if harshly treaterl ; but, otherwise, and if not corrupted by ignorant demagogues and designing agents, they were the most tractable find attached people on earth. He was confident that the masters in St. Domingo had nothing to fear.

He was proceeding; but he perceived that the band was reentering the orchestra, and he sat down abruptly.

The chairman now discovered that it had grown very dark, and called out for lights. His orders were echoed by several of the party, who hoped that the light.s would revive SODle of the spirit of the evening, which had become very flat.

While waiting £01: lights, the jalousies were once 1110re opened, by orders 11'0111 tho chair. The apartmeut was instantly })er. vaded by a dull, changeful, rod light. derived from the sky,

THE HOUR A.l\.!D TIlE A1AJ.V.

"which glow"eel above the t-rees of the Jesuits' Walk "with the reflection of extensive fires. The guests were rather startled, too, by perceiving that the piazza WI'S crowded with heads; and that dusky faces, in countless number, were looking in upon them, and had probably been watching thorn for some time past. With the occasional puffs of w-ind, which brought the smell of burning, came a confused 111UrU1Ul", from a distance, as of voices, the tramp of many horses in the sand, and a multitude of feet in the streets. This was immediately lost in louder sounds. The band struck up, unbidden, "TUh all its po\ver, the l\lal'~ scillaise Hymn ; and every voice in the piazza, and, hy degrees, along the neighbouring streets and square, seemed to join ill Ringing t,he familiar words ._

" Allons enfans de Itt patrie, Le jour l1l~ gloil'e est arrive.'

The consternation of the deputies and tlu-ir guests was ext.reme, Every luau showed his terror ill his OW"11 ,vay; but one act was universal. Each one produced arrns of one sort or another. Even Odeluc, it tl-l)peared, had Hot come unarmed, While they were yet standing ill groups about the table, the door burst open, and a negro, covered wit.h dust and panting with haste, ran in and made for the head of the table, thrusting himself freely through the parties of gentlemen. The chairman, at sight of the mall, turned pale, recoiled for a moment, and then, swearing a deep oath, drew the short sword he wore, and ran the negro through the body.

" Oh, master! " cried tho poor creature, as his life ebbed out in

t,lle blood which inundated the floor. .

The act was not seen by those outside" as there was a screen of persons standillg between the tables and the windows. To t.11is necident it was probably ow-iug that tho party survived tlHlt hour, and that auy order was preserved ill the town.

" Shame, Protean! shame 1" said Odelnc, as ho bent down, and saw that the negro was dying-. Papalier, Bayou, find a few rnore, cried" S11ume ! " also; while others applauded.

"I will defend IUY deed," said Protean, struggling with the hoarseness of his voice, and pouring out a glass of wine to clear his throa t. His hand was 110llC of the .steadi est as 110 di d so. " Hush that band! 'I'here is 110 heuring oneself speak. Hush! I say; stop l " and swearing, he passionately shook his fist at the musicians, who were still makinjr the air of t.he l\Iftl"~ scillaise peal t.hrough the 1'00111. They instantly stopped, uud departed.

" There! you have sent them out to tell what you hUY8 done,' observed a deputy .

.. , I will defend Illy deed," Protenu repeated, when Ire hall

25

swallowed the wino, "I am confident the negroes have risen. I am confident the fellow came with bad mtent.'

" No fear hut the negroes will rise, nnywhero in Lhc world, where they have such as you for masters." said Oilcluc.

" What. do yon III C an, sir P " cried Protean, laying his hand on the hilt of his dripping sword,

" I 111Cnll wlint I SHY. Aud I will fell VOU, too, what I rlo Hot

~ ~

mean, I do not mean to fig'ht to-night with allY ,,,hite: :urr1

least of all wit h one who is stundiug' in a pool of innocent blood, of his own shedding." .Aud he pointed to Protean's feet, which were indeed soaked with th c blood ()f ] lIS sla ve.

(, Hush! hush! gentleulcll! '} cric(l f-;t~,-eral voices, " Here is

1110l·e news ! "

"Tl ide the hody l " said Bayou, and as ho spoke ho stOf)V(·t1

to lift it I 1\:1. ]31~(? lle 111~1(1(~ shorter ""'()1-1{ I II~l~ rolled it over

with his f(lot, aHd kieked it nuder tJjO L'llJle. It, ,rtIs out of sight heforc the muster of the hotel (,Htel'pd, followed hy ~e\T(ll'Hl negroes frrnu the plain, to say t hn t tho "£01'("0 H had rison on several plantations, had dismantled the m ills, lmrued the susrarhouses, set fire to the (TOPS, lllHl'del'cd the overseers, aud, lll1 feared, in S01110 cases, the proprietors.

c Where ? " '~"'hose estates?" "Wha t proprietors P" asked every voice present.

'" Where did it begin? " was the question the landlord applied himself first to answer.

'" It broke out on the N oe estate, sir. They mnrdored the refiner anel his apprentice, and carried off the surgeon. Tl1ey left another young Juan for dead; but he got away, and told the people on the next plantntion , but it. was too late then. They had reached 1\1. Clements hy that tirne, and raised his people. They say ]1. Clernent is killed; but some of Ids faruily oscapcr]. Tll(~:r are here ill t]le tOlnl, I hclit'TC. ~~

SOlllO of the deputies now snat--herl their hu t s, aud went out to learn where the fngiti ves were, and thus to get i ui"ql'lna tiou, if possible, at first hand.

" All is safe ill OUll quarter, at, IH'(,SCllt, I trnst,n Rtlid Pnpnlier to Bayou; ,. hut shull we be gone (t Your horse is here, I sup·

posc. "\V e call ride together."

" In a moment. Let. us hear all ,YC can first." replied Bayou. '" Do you stny for that purpose, then, and look to onr horses, I will learn what the Goyeruol"s ol'dt'l's arc, and come here fur yon presently." And Papalier wns gone.

"Theil Bayou turned to listen ngaill, Odclue was saying ~

'" Impossible 1 incredible! Gnlli£et '8 force rison ~ Not they? 'I'hoy would 1)0 firm if the world were crushed Ilat, ",Vby, they

love 1110 ns if I were their father! " ., •

" N evertheless, sir, yon 0'''(' your safety to beiug Illy guest,"

26

THE [-JOUR AiVD THE M .. 41\T.

said the landlord, with a h01V as polite as on the most festive nceasion. " I am happy that Illy roof should- "

"'Vho brought, t.his l'eporf?" cried Odelnc, "\Vho can gh-e news of Gnlli£ct's negrops?" And he looked among tho black faces '\1 hich were clustered bell ind tho Iandlord. No one spoke thence; but a voice from the piazza said-

~. Gallifct's force has risen. TIle canes are all on fire."

"I wil] l)I'ing them to their senses," said Odeluc, with sudden quietness. .. I hnvo pow·er oyer them. The Governor will gh·o me a handful of JllCU from the town guard, Rna we shall set things straight before morning. The l)oor fellows have heeu cnrricd aw·n)', while I was not there to stand by them hut making speec lies here, like a holiday fool! I will hring them to their senses presont ly. 1\iakc ''f"ay, friends make way."

And Odelue stepped out aJllOllg' tho hlncks on the piazza, that being the- shortest way to Government House.

" I hope he is not too confident ,'-' w hispcrcd n, town deputy fa a friend from the sou t 11. '~Bllt this is 1.)[\(1 news. Gallifet's plantation is tho largest in the plnhl, and only eight miles off."

A sort of scream, fl cry of horror, from one lVJIO stood close by, stopped the deputy.

'. Boirien ! whut is tho matter ? " cried n, d(\]1l.tt.y, as Boiricn hid his lace ,vith his arms upon the table, and a strong shudder shook his "T ]10}0 frame ~

" Do not speak to him l I will tell yon," said another. ,I Oh, this is horrible! They lUlYC murdered his brother-in-law 011 F'lavil le's estate, and carried off his sister and her three d~n1ghtcl's into the woods, S0111cthing HUlst be done directly. Boirien, lny poor fellow, I um going to the Governor. Soldiers shall he sent to bring your sister into tho town. We shall have her here before morning ; and yon must brjng 1101' and her family to 111V house.'

....

No Que could enduro to stay nnd hear 111 ore. Some went to

learn elsewhere the fate of those in WhOlU they were interested. SOlne wont to offer their services to the Governor; some to barricade their own houses in the tOTITD; some to see whether it was yet possible to entrench their plantations. Some declared their intention of conveying the ladies of their families to tho convent; the place always hitherto esteemed safe, amidst all commotions. It soon appeared, however, that this was not the opinion of the sisters themselves, on tho present occasion, nor of the authorities of the town ; for the muffled nuns were seen hurrying down to the quay, under the protection of soldiers, in order to take refuge on board the vessels in the hay. All night long, boats were plying in tho harbour, conveying women, children, plate, and llloney, on board the ships which happened to be in the roads,

27

Tlw 1lulllIol'tl would IWTc been glad of the h(llp of [tHY of lds guests, ill clearing his house; but tlley had no sympathy to spnreno time to think of his plato and wines. A,s the whites disappeared from the rOOIn, the blacks poured in. They allowed the Iandlord to SW'ccp tHyay his plato, hut they laid hands OIl the wincs : and many a smart speech, and nla.ny a light laugh, resounded within those wa Us till morning, while consternation reigned without. When these thoughtless creatures sauntered to their several homes in the sunrise, they found that such of their feliow-scrvants as they had hoeu aecusromed to look up to, as abler and more trusted than themselves, hac! disappeared, and no one would tell whitlrer they were gOlle only that they were quite safe.

,''''hen ~I. Papalier returned to tho hotel, from his cruise for informnt ion , he found his neighbour Bayou iuipat ient ly WTtitillg" 011 horseback, while Henri, still in his white apron, was holding t he other horse.

H Here, sir mount, and let us be off," cried Bayou. H w e owe it to 111y friend Henri, here, that we have our horses. Tho gentleluen from the country very naturally took the first that came to hand to get, homo npon. They say Leroy is gone horne on a dray-mulo. I rather eX110et. to meet Toussaint. 011 the road. If he sees the fires, he will he corning to look after me."

"He cannot well help seeing the fires,' replied Papalier, " They are climbing up the mountaiu-sirle, all the w-ay along the Rant du Cap. We shall be singed like two porkers, if we do not ride like two devils ; and then we shall be lucky if we do not meet two thousand devils by the way."

"Do you suppose f.he road is safe, Henri?" asked Bayou. " I know von will tell ]110 truth.'

..

"Indeed, master, I know nothing," replied Henri. " Yon

say you shall meet Tous~aint. I 'will ride wit h you till yon meet him, if YOll will. Our people all know him and Inc."

"Do so, Henri, Do not waif to look for another horse.

Jump up behind me. Mine is It strong beast, and will Dutko no difficulty, even of your weight. N ever mind your apron. Keep it for a Hag of truce, in case we meet the enemy."

They were off, and presently emerged from the comparative darkness of thestreets into the light of the fires. None of the three spoke, except to urge on the horses np the steep, sandy road, 'v hich first presented an ascent £1'0]11 the town; and then a descent to the plain, before it assumed the level which it then preserved to the foot of the opposite mountains, nearly fifty miles off. No one appeared on the road; and t.he horsemen had, therefore, leisure to cast glances behind them, as they were slowly carried up the ascent. Tho alarm-boll was now sending its

28

THE I£OUR Al\tD TIlE A~A1V.

sullen sounds of dismay far and wide in the air, whose stillness was becoming more and more disturbed by the draughts of the spreading fires, as the canes eaught, like torches, up the slopes 1 n the right. Pale t.winkling' lights, sprinkled over the cape nud i 110 harbour lights which looked like glow-,y-orn1 tapers nmidst 1 he fiery atmosphere, showed that every ono was awake nurl stirring ill tho town, and on board the ships; while an occasional rocket, UI011Utillg in the smoky air, from either the Barracks or Go,~crllnlellt Honse, showed that. it was tho intont iou of t.Jw authori ties to iut imate to the inhahitau t·g of tho remoter dist rict s of the plain that tho Govcrnnlent was on the alert, and proyiding for tho public safety.

On surmounting the ridge, Honri stretched out Ilis hand, and puller] the In-idle of 1\1. Bayou's 1101'Se to tlw left" so as to turn it into u naITO'''', green track which here pnrtell from theroad .

.. lVllat HOW", sir P" cried Papalier, in a f oue of suspicion, thct·killg' his horse, instead of following.

" Yon li13Y, 1)Pl'11aps. lnert two thousand devils, if you keep the high l'ond to the l)lnill," answered Henri. quietly. To 1\1. Bayou he explained t.hat 'I'oussaint would probably choose this road, through 1tIadalllo Oge ~s plantation.

H Come OIl, Pnpalicr; do Hot lose time. All is right enough," said Bayou. H The grasa.trucks are the safest to-night, depend upon it."

Pa.palicr followed, ill discontenterl silence. III a few moments, Henri again pulled tho bridle a decided check t.his 'time - stoppiug" the horse .

•• Voices," 110 whispered. Bayou could hear none. In a lllOlll ell t, Henri con tinucd .

•• It is Toussaint. I thought 'V8 should meet him hereabouts.'

'rhc next turn of t he pat h brought them upon 'I'oussaint, who wus a.d\rnneillg' wit h the led horse from Breda. Not} far behind hirn 1YHS ~lndillne l)g0~S house, the door standing witle, and, seen hy the light, within, a woman in tho tludrway. Toussaint pulled. up, .Hem-i leaped £1OW"l1, and rUB to shake hands with Iris friend. Papalier took the opportunity to say, in a low voice, to Ba.you--

H You 11111st send your fellow t here on hoard ship. You must, t.hcl'e is 110 doubt of it. The Goyernor, and aU the householders ill Cap, are doing so with their cleverest negroes; and if there is a clever one in the colony, it is 'I'oussuint.'

" I shall do no such thing'," Raid Bayou. "I have trusted Toussaint for these thirty vears ; and I shall not distrust him

~ .

now now w hen we most need t It()sC we can best coufide in.'

" That is exactly "hat ],1. Clellu'ut said of his posti llion ; and it. ,,"ns his posfillion that struck him to the heart. Yon must ::5C11(1 'I'oussuin t. on hoard shi p; and I wil] tell yon how - .,

29

Papalier stopped, perceiving t.hat the two negroes were not talking, but had their eyes fixed on him.

"What is tlud?" said Henri. " Is Toussaint to go on bonr.l

h- ?"

S Ip.

" No, no; nonsense," said Bayon; "I n m not going to send anybody on board ship. All quiet. at, Breda. I snpposC', 'I'oussaint P "

" All quiet" sir, at present. 1\1. .Papalicr on board ship I will not go."

" .s: o\._s your master pleases. It is no concern of mine, 'I'ous.

.. t" · 1 P 1"

sa III ~ sa I(_ ~llla I cr.

>. So I think," replied Toussaint.

" You sec your faitllfnl hands, your very obedient friend«, have got a will or theil' 0\,\",11 ah-cndy ,' whispr-rcrl PnpaliC'l" til Bayou, as they HPt theil' horses fnrwa«] agni It: Hr-mi t u rni Il,~' homewards 011 the t irei I horse wl: icl: h}\( 1 en l"l'i('(l double, it Jl d Bayou lllountillg that which 'I'oussaiut had hroHght,

" '\-Till you go rouurl, or pass the house P" 'I'oussn iuf Hske<l of his master. •• Madnillo O,ge js standing in HIe dnol',,",ay. ,.,

Bayou was about to turn his horse's head. hut the person in the doorway caine out into the darkness, and caned 1111U 11Y his uame. He was obliged to go forward.

"lIadRnle," said he, "I hope you hnve no trouhle with your people. I hope your people arc fill stC'(u1y."

" Never mind me and Illy people," replied tt tremulous voice, " What I want to know is, what has happened at Cap. 'VIto have rjsen ? Whose are these tires? " .

" The negroes have risen on a few plantations: that. is all.

'Ve shall SO(JIl "

" The ncgrons l " echoed t~lC' voirr-. "Yon :ll'l' sure it is oul t~

...

t he uegroes P ~)

" Oul v t 11 C II t~ (!l~OC S ~ ruadrunc. C~ ~i ill l)C oi} Sf~ rv i (~e t () ,-or{J (l? 1 f

w ........ ....

you have any reason to f('ul' that. your force .;':

. .; I have 110 reason to fear anythiug. I wi l! not detain yuu. :::-; 0 doubt you are wanted at horne, !1. Bayou."

A 11(1 she l~e-Cll tcrcd her house, :111(_1 closed t.he doors .

• ~ How you have disappointed her ~" said P:l})alier. .., She hoped to heal' that her race had risen, aud vrere (lreugillg her S0118 all us. I am thankful to.night," he continued, after a pat16e, '~thnt Illy little girls are at Paris. How glad might that: poor womau have becu, if her sons had stay(·d there! Strango enough, Pat-is is called the very centre of disorder. and yet it, seems the only place for our sons aud daughters in i heso days."

•• And stl'al1gely (,llongh," said Bayou. "I BJU glad that I havo neither 'wife, SOIl. nor otlughter. I feJtr th8t, e'"eU while Odelu« was holdillg forth about the nge of security which we were now entering npl)l1 I felt at the moment that there must be

30

T If .E' Ii 0 U R A .v D THE lIf#4 ~.'V.

something wrong ; that all could not he rig-ht, when a man feels glad that he has only himself to take care of. Our negroes aro better off than we, so far. Hey, Toussaint ? ~,

"I think so, sir."

" How many wives and children have you, Toussaint? " asked

Pa})alier.

H I have five children, sir." .

" And how many wives in your time?"

Toussaint made no answer. Bayou said for hhu- ..

,; He has such a good wife that he never wanted more. He married her when he was five-and-twenty did not you, Toussaint P "

Toussaint had dropped into the rear. His master observed that Toussaint was rather romantic, and did not like jesting OIl domestic affairs. He was more prudish about such matters than whites fresh from the mother country. Whether he had got. it out of his books, or whether it locally was a romantic attachment to his wife, there was 110 knowing ; but he was quite unlike his race generally in family matters.

"Does he take upon himself to be scandalised at us?" asked Papalier.

" I do not ask him. But if you like to consult, him about your Therese, I do not doubt he will tell you his mind."

" Come, cannot we go on faster P This, is a horrid road, to be sure; bn t poor Therese will think it, is all oyer wi th me, if she looks at the red sky towards Cap."

There were reasons enough for alarm about M, Papa1ier's safety, without looking over towards Cap. When the gentlemen arrived at Arabie, his plantation, they found tlle iron gates dowllt and lying on the grass young trees hewn down, as if for hludgrons· the cattle couched in the cane-fields, lapped in the luxury of the sweet tops and sprouts the doors of the sugavhouse and mnusiou removed, the windows standing wide, uud llO OILO to uuswer cal]. The sluve-qunrter nlso was evidently desert eel.

Papalier c]avved spur:; to his horse, and rode rounel, faster than his companions could follo,v him. At length Bayou intercepted his path at a sharp huon, caught his bridle, and said -

H lfy dear fell ° w, CO)UO with me. There is llothiug to be done here. Your people are al] gOlle; and if they come buck, they will only cut your fhroat. Y on nmst come with me , and under the circnmstanccs, I cannot stay IOllger. I ought to he tit horne.'

" 'I'rue, true. Go, and I will folhnv. I must fiud out w hether tney have carried off Therese. I must, and I will.'

Toussaint pricked his horse into the court-yard, and after a searching look around drngged out from hehind the well a

Bl?EDA RE,,~_l crri:o

31

young negress who had been erou ching there, with un infant in her arms. She shrieked and strugglecl till she saw Papalier, wheu she rushed towards him.

" Poor Therese ! " cried he, patting her shoulder. "Tl'ow W"C have frightened you! There is nobody here but, friends. At least, so it SCCIllS. Where are all the peoplo ]' And ,,"110 did this mise hie! P "

The young creature trembled exeessively ; and her terror marred for the time a beauty which was celebrated all over tho district a beauty which was admitted as fully by the whites as by people of her 0,,11 race, Her features were now convulsed by fear, as she told ","hat had happened- that a body of negroes had como, three hours since, and had summoned Papalier's people to meet at Latour's estate, where all the force of the plain was to unite before morning -that Papulier's people mndo no difficulty about going, only stopping to search the house for what arms and ammunitiou might be there, and to do the mischief which now appeared that she believed tho whites at the sugar-bouse must have escaped, as she had seen and heard nothing of uloodshed and that this was all 811e kuew, as S}lC had hidden herself and her infant, first in one place, and then in allot-her, 38 8118 fancied safest, hOI)ing that nobody would remember her, which seemed to have been the case, as 11 f) 0110 molested her till Toussaint saw her, and terrified her as they pcrC'eh~ed. She had not looked in his face, but supposed that some of Latour's people had come back for her.

" N O\V you will come with me," said Bayou to Papalicr, impatiently.

Ii I will, thank you. Toussaint, help her up behind me, and carry the child, will yon? Hold fast, Therese, and leave off

"" ... "

trembling as soon as yon call.

"(.

Tllerese would let no 0118 curl'Y tho iufant hut ]wl'~el£. She

kept lIer scat well behiucl her master, though still trciuhliug when she a.light.ed at, tho stables at Breda.

Placido and Dellis were 011 t·I1C watch at t.JIO stables,

" Ruu, Denis! ;' said his brother. And Denis was off to tell his mother that Toussaint and 1\1. Bayou wore safe horne

"' Anything" happened, Plaeiclc? " asked Bayou.

" Y ('8, sir. The people "were sent for to Latour's, and 1110St of them are gOlle. Not. all, sir. Saxe would not go till be SR'V father; lior Cassius, llor Autoiue, nor - .,

" Is there any mischief douc P Anybody hurt. ? ) :, No, sir. They went oft vcry quietly."

((Quietly, indeed! They lake quietly cnough all the kindness I have ShOW11 them these f.lrirty years. They quietly take t he opportunity of leayjl1g ]110 alone toO-night" of all llights, tv-hen the devils fr0111 hell arc abroarl, scattering their fire as they go."

"If you w-ill enter, 11. Bayou," said Toussaint, "my w-ile will get you supper; and the boys and I will collect the people that are left, and bring fhern up to the house. They have not touched your arms, sir. If you will have them ready f01'

"

1\8--

"Good, good! Papalier, we cannot do better. 00111e in.

Toussaint, take hOD1C this young woman. Your girls will t.ake care of her. Eh! what's the matter ? Well. put her where you will -ouly let her be taken care of that is all."

" I will speak to J eaunctte. sir."

l' _.Lt\ ,7", do. J eannet te will } (_)t, TIICl~esc come to 110 harm,

..

Pupali«r. Come in, till 'I'oussaint hl'lllgs a l'PP()1't of how matters

st.u«] w ith ns poor masters."

........... " - ._...._,...

~rHE report hruught hy 'I'oussaint ,yas :lstoluHlil1g to his hearer«, even nfter the l)repa.ratioll nffnl'ued hy the cvr-ut s of the evening'. It was clear that the llegroc~ had everything' in thei r own IW.IH1-..;. and that the spirit roused in them was so fierce, so revenjreful. us to leave 'no hope that they would use their po,,~cr wit h moderation. Tho Breda estate, and everyone near it~ was to he l'ayaged when those on the north side of the plain were COIn' pletely destroyed. The force assembled at Latour's already mnonnted to four thousand; and no assistauce ('ould he looked for 11'0111 the tow-ns at all adequate to meet such numbers, since the persons and property of the whites, hourly acoumulatiuir ill the towns as the iusurrect iou spread, required more thau Hlf the uieaus of protection that the colony afforded, 'rile two gClltle- 1l1(\U agreed, as they sat at the table covered with supper, wine, and glittering arms, that to remain was to risk their lives with 110 g-ood object. It was clear that they must fly.

'I'oussaiut suggested that a quantity of sugar from the Breda estate was now at Port Paix, lying ready for shipment. There was certainly one vessel, if not 11t01'8, in that port, belouging to the U nitecl States. If the gentleillcu would risk the ride to tho coast with him, he thought he could put them all board, ;1ud they migltt. take with I heui this sligar, intended for Frunce, but now wanted for their subsistcuce in their exile. Bavou saw tit once that this was the best plau he ('oultl adopt. P~lpalier was unwilling to turn his back so SOOIl, nud tiO completely, 011 his property. Bayou "as only att Ul'J}('Y- to t IJe Breda estate. and had no one hut himself to care for. Papalier was a ptoprietor,

POIS~O~V TO TOUSS.r~1 /;."V T.

33

and he could not give up at once, and for eyer, tho lands which his daught,ers should inherit after him, He could not, instantly decide upon this. He would wait EOlnO hours at least. Ho thought he could contrive to get, into SOUle towu, or into the Spanish territory, though he inight be compelled to leave the plain. He slept for this night wit h his arrns nt hand, and under the watch of Placido, who rnight he trusted t» keep awake and listen, as his father vouched for him. Bayou was gone present IJ ; with such Iitt.Ie 11lOllCY as he hnppencrl to IU1Y(~ in the houso , nnrl in his pockets, f.he gold ornaiueufs which 'I'oussaiut's wife insisted on his accepting', and which were not to be rlcspisr«l in this day of his arlveraity, He was sorry to tako her nc,,·klaro and car-rings, which were really valunblc ; hut she sa irl, truly, that he had been a kind master for ninny spars, aud ong-Jlf, to connuund what they had, llU1\T ihat they were all in t1'on1>10 together.

Before the next 1100ll, ~I. Bayou was on board the American vessel in the harbour of Port Paix, ,,"eary and sad, hut safe, with his sugar, and pocketsful of cash anti gold trinkets. Before evening, Toussaint, who rode like tho w ind, and seemed incapable of fatigue, was cooling himself under a tuuun-ind-t rec, ill a nook of tho Breda estate.

He was not there to rest, himself. wlii]« 1-110 world seemed to he falling into chaos around him, He 1,U-, there foe fhe duty of the hour -to meet by appointment the leader of the insurgents, Jean Francais, whom, till IlO'V, he had always 8UPI)Ose<l to be his friend, as far as their intercourse went, though Jean had never been so dear to hini as Henri. Ho had not sat long, Iistening for Hounds of approach amidst the clatter of the neigh. honring palm-tree tops, whose stiff leaves struck one uuot.lrcr as they waved in the wind, when J cun a ppoarcd from be hind

the III iII .

.. Yon have stopped our wheel." said 'Toussaint, pointing" to the reeking water-mil]. ,. It will be cracked ju the SU11 he-fore you can set it going again."

" Yes, we lU1YC stopped all the mills," replied Jean. H Eyery stream in the colony has a holiday to-clay, and llU1Y frolic as it likes. I am afraid I nuule you wait supper last night? "

., You gave me poison, J can. You have poisoned Illy trust in IUY friends. I watched for yon as for a friend ; and "That were you doing the while P You were rehelling, ravaging', aud

murdering ! " '

"Go 011," said Jean. It 'I'cll rue how it, avpears to you; and then I will tell you how it appears to IIlC."

II It appears to Inc, then, that. if the whites are to blame towards those who arc jn their pO,YCl' if they have beeu ci-ucl to the Oges, and their lHll"ty if they have oppressed their C

34

ucgrocs, as t.hey too often have, our duty is clear to bear and forbear, to do thPlll good ill return for their evil. To rise against thorn cunuiug'Iy, to burn their plantations, and murder them-eto do this is to t.hrow back the gospel in tho face of Him who gave it ! "

" But you do not, understand this rising. It is not for revenge." "Why do I not understand it. . Because you 1..11e,v that I should disapprove it" and kept me at home by a false appointrncut, that I might be out of the way. Do you say all this is not for revenge? I look at the hell you have made of this colony between night and morning, and I say that if this be not from revenge, there must be something viler than revenge in the hearts of devils and of men."

" And now, hear me," said J ean, "for I am wanted at Latour's, and Iny time is short. It was no false appointment last night.. I was on Iny "ray to you, when I was stopped by some news whicl; altered our plans in a moment, and made us rise sooner, by three days, than "TO expected. I was COIUll1g to ten you all, nut1 cng'ngc you to he 0110 of our chiefs. Havo yon heard that tho Cul!JP~c has put into port at tho other end of tho island t "

" No."

"Then you do not know tho news she brought. She has u royalist master, who is ill no hurry to tell his news to tho revo. Iutionary whites, The king and all his £anlily tried to escape from Franco in Juno. They were overtaken on the road, and bronght back prisoners to Paris."

Toussaint" who always uncovered his head at the name of the king, 110;Y bent it I(HV in genuine grief .

.• Is it Hot tTUP,~' said J can, "that our masters are traitors P Do they Hot iusult fiud defy the king? 'Vonld there not hHYC bec·n one shon! of joy through all Cnp last l1ig11t., if this IH~'YS Jind been hroHght to the deputies after diuuor with their wiue ? ~,

,. It is true, But thcy would still have been less guilty than lhasa who arld ravage find nurrder to rebellion."

H There was no stopplng thc people when the messengers from 1 he 007!ipse crossed the frontier, and sent the cry, ' Vivo ]e Roi ! et l'anr-ieu regiIne,' throngh tho negro quarters of eyery estate they l"(lae]jed. 'I'he people were np on the N oe I)lalltuHoll at tho worr]. U pOll Illy honou:r, the glare 01 the fire was tho first I knew about it. Then the spirit spread among our people, like tho tlall1cs among our 111astCl"S' eaucs. I like inurdcr no better than you, Toussaint; but when once slaves nrc UP1 with knife and firebrand, those llUty keep rc\~cnge from kiudliug who can -I cannot."

" At least, you need not jOill- you can oppose yourself to it." " I have not joined. I have snvetl three or four whites this

35

day hy giving them wnrning, I have hidden a family ill the woods, and I will die before I ",yill tell where tLev' arr-, I did wJ18t I could to persuade Ga.llifet's people to Ipt, O~lelnc anrl his soldiers turn back to Cap: and I believe they would, but £01' Odeluc's obstinacy in coming among us. If he would have kept

his distance, he lnight 11ayO been alive 1101\", i\.S it is _"

" And is he dead? the good Odelnc 1 "

" There he lies; aucl half-a.dozen of the soldiers with him.

I am sorry, for he always thought well of us; hut he thrust himself into the danger. One reason of JUy coming here now is to say that this plantation and Arabie will be attacked to .. night, and Bayou had better roost ill a tree till morning."

" AIy master is safe," " Safe? Wllcl1te?"

" On the sea."

" You have saved him. Have yon I know your love of abe .. dicnce 18 strong have you pledged yourself to our masters, to OP1)OSO the rising' to fig-Itt all their side?"

'~I gi\Tc no })lcdg-cs hut to ]11Y conseionce. And I have 110 party where hot h aro "Tong. 'I'he whif cs nrc revengeful, and rebel against their king; ruul the blacks arc revf'ugeful,. and rebel ngainst their masters."

".Did y ou Iicnr uuyt hing on tho roast of the arr ivul of the Blonde frigate £1'0111 J-UlllfliefL ? "

" y cs; there ugnill is 11101'0 treason, Tho whites fit Cup have implored the English to lake posscssiou of the colony. First traitors to the king, they would now join tho enemies of their countrv, Fear not, J cant that I would defend tho treason 01

•

such; but I would Hot murder them."

,,; "rlutt do yon mean to do? this ycry night yonr cstrde will he at-tacked. Your ftHllily is nhllost tho ouly oue l'cllwiuing" 011 it.' Have you thought what yon will do 7 )'

" I have; and your news only confirms my thought" " You will not attempt to defend the plauta tion ? "

" What would my single arm do 1 It would provoke revenge which might othecwise sleep."

" True. Let the estate be deserted, and the gates and doors left wide, and no mischief may bo dOl1C. Will you join us then? " " Join YOlI! no ! Not till your loyalty is free from stain.

Not while you fight for your king with a cruelty from which

your king would recoil." .

" Y 011 will wait," said J enn, sarcastically, " till we have conquered tho colony for tho king. That douo you wil] avow your loyal t,y ."

"Such is not Illy Inll'po,~c, J ean," replied 'I'oussaiut, quietly. " Y ou have called me your fricud ; but yon uudcrstand DIe IhJ more than if I ",'ere your C110111Y. I "rill help to conquer t,J10 c 2

TI-fE flOUR AND TIlE .i'vlAJV.

colony for the king; but it shall be to restore to him its lands as the King of kings gays them to him not ravaged and soaked in blood, but redeemed with care, to be made fair and fruitful, as held in trust for him, I shall join the Spaniards, and fight for Iny king with Illy king's allies."

J can was silent" evidently struck with the thought. If he had been troubled with speculations as to what he should (10 with his undisciplined, half-savage forces, after the whites should have been driven to entrench themselves in the towns, it is pos .. sible that this idea of crossing tho Spanish line, and putting 11 im .. self and his people under the command of these allies, luight be a welcome relief to his perplexity.

" And your family," said he: ",yBl the Spauiards receive 0111" wouiou and children into their camp P "

"I shall not ask them, I Ita YO a refuge ill view for illy falnily."

" 'Vhell w il] you go P "

" "Vhell yon Ieave me. Yon will lind the estate deserted this nig'ht" as you wish. 'I'lie f'ow )l(~gTOCS lY 110 are here will doubtless go with me; and ,YO shall have Cl'OSSCU the ri ver before morning. "

"You wonld not object," said .Ieau, c. to he joined on the road

by SOll10 of our negro force; on Illy l.lcdg·c, you understand, that they will not ravage the country."

" Some too goou for your present connnand P " sahl Toussaint, smiling. "I "rill command them 011 one other condition-that they will treat well any white who may happen to be with me." " I said nothing about your comruandiug them," said J can. " If I send men I s11~l11 se11(1 officers. But whites ! what whites ~ Did yon not say Bayou wus on the spa? "

,. I did; l)ut there 111ay he other whites whom I choose to pl'O~

teet" as you say you are doing. If. instead of hidiug whites in the woods, I carry them nero-is the frout icr, what treatment Inay I expect for Iny party on the road 1-1"

"I will go with you myself, and that is promising eyery~ thing," said J ean, lllnking It virtue of what was before it strollg inclination. "Set out ill two hours from t.his time. I ,yill 1)11 t the command of the plain into Biassou's hands, and ruake a calnp near the Spanish lines. The posts in that direction are weak, and the whites panic-struck, if indeed they have not all fled to the fort. Well, well," ho continued, "keep to your timo, and I will join you at the cross of the four roads, three miles south of Fort Dauphin. All will be safe that far, at Ieast."

" If not, we have SODle strong arms among us," replied Toussaint. " I believe my girls (or one of them at least) would Lear arms where my llollour is at stake. So our king is a prisoner! and 'fa are free! Such are the changes which Heaven sends!"

37

" Ay. how do- you feel, now yon are free?" said J can, " Did you not put your horse to [L gallop when yon turned your hack on your old master r H

" Not a "'01'£1 of that J ean. Let us not think of ourselves, There is work to do for our king. He is our tusk-master DOW._'~ " Y ou are in a hurry for another master," said J eau, "I n m not, tired of being DIy own master yet."

U I wish you would make your people masters of themselves, Jean. They are not fit £01" l)ower. Heaven take it from us, by putting all po,,"er into the hand of the king! "

" We meet by starlight," said J eau, ,. I have the business of

five thousand men to arrange first; so, 1110rc of the king auother time. "

He leaped tho nearest fence and WEtS gone. Tonssaint rose ana walked away, with it countenance so serious, thnt l\Ia.rgot asked if there was bad news of 1\1. Bayou.

Whon the family undcrst,oocl that i-ho Breda estate was to he attacked this nigJlt, thoro was no ueerl to hasten t,heir prcpnrations for departure. In tho midst of tho hurry, Aimee consulted Isaac about fill enterprise which had oor-urred to her, 011 her father's l)chul£; and the result was! that they ventured up to tho house, and as far as 1\1. Bayou's book-shelves, to hring away the volumes they had been accustomed-to see their father read. This thought entered Aimccs mind when she saw him, busy as lie 'vas, carefully pocket tho Epict.etns he had been rending the night before. 1\1. Papalier was rendiIlg-, while 'I'hcrcso was runk ing packages of comforts for 111n1. He observed the hoy and girl, (111(1 'V11011 lie found that t.llC hooks thev took "TCT~O f01- thei T~

...

father, he muttered over the vohuue he held -

" Bavon was a fool to allow i t. I a I wa \~S told liim SO~ When

~ ~

our ll('p;rocs get to rend like so Inuny g'pntlC'III en, no wonder tho

worhl is turned upside dOW·H."

•• Do your negroes read, 1\_[. Pnpalier?" askea Isaac. u No, indeed! Hot one of t hem, "J

lO Where nrc they all, then P n

AinH~e put in her word.

"'Vhy do they not take care of you, as father did of 1\1.

Btl von ? ~ ~

"

CHAPTER IV.

WIIITHER AW.llY P

J\tf. P.AP ALIER did not much relish the idea of roosting in n tree for the night; especially as, on corning down in the morning, there would be no friend or helper near, to care for or minister to him. Habitually and thoroughly as he despised tho negroes, he preferred travelling in their company to hiding among' tho monkeys; and he therefore decided at once to do as 'I'oussaint concluded he would accon1pany him to the Spanish frontier.

The river Massacre, the houudary at the north between the French and Spanish portions of tho island, was about thirty miles distant from Breda. These thirty miles must be tra ver-.cd between sunset anrl sunrise. Three or four horses, and two mules which wore left 011 tho plantation, wcro sufficient for the conveyance of the women, hoys, and girls; and PIne-ide ran, of his own accord, to M. Papalicr's deserted stables, nud brought thence n, saddled horse for tho g'cntlenlan, who was less able than the women to walk thirty miles in the course of a tropical SUllll11Cr'S night.

" 'Vhat wil.l your Spanish friends think of our bringing so many wumen and children to their post?" said .Papalier to Toussaint, as soon as they were on their ,yay. "fI'lley 'will not tllink you worth having, with fin tho iucumbrunces you carry."

" I shall enrry none,' saiu 'I'oussaint,

" Wha! do you 111Can to do with your wife and ehiltlren?"

" I shall put them in tl safe place by the ,,~uy. For your own sake, l\l. .Papa.licr, I must ask you what you mean to do in tho Spanish post repnblican as yon arc. You know the Spaniards are allies of tho king' of Frnnce."

" They are al1ies of Frauco, and "ill doubtless receive fiUy honourable French gClltlcllHlll," said PalJa}ier confidently, though Toussaint's question only echoed a doubt wliich he had already spoken to himself. " Y ou are acting so like a friend to me here, Toussaint, that I cannot snppose you 'rill do me mischief there, by any idle tales about the past."

" I will not; but I hear thnt the Marquis d'HerlllOlut knows the politics of every gelltlcllHlll in the colony. If there haTo been any tales abroad of speeches of yours ngaillst tho kiug, or threats, or acts of rebellion, the ltlnrqnis d'Hormona kn01YS them all."

" I have taken less part in politics than 1110st of Iny neighbours ; and Hermoua knows that" if he knows the rest. But what shall

~ ""

TIJERESE~

39

I do with Therese, if your women stop short all the wny P Could you lnrr.l\..() rOOUl for her ,vith thClll? "

" Nat wit h f liem, hut .,.»

" ~ly good fellow, t lris is no t ime for £HllC'ie~. I am sorry to see yon set your girls above th0ir couditioll HIHl t.Jlcir neigJIlJonrs. There is no harm about poor 'I'hcri-se. Indeed, she is very well educated; I have had her well tnught ; aud they might learn many things from her, if you really wish tliem to be superior. She is not a hit the worse for bciIl,g a favourite of mine , anrl ib will be t.lu-ir turn soon to he somchodys fnvotu-itcs, yon know. And that before long.depend upou it," he contiu ned, turning 011 his saddle to look for Gcuifretlo and Ahnec. "They are fine girls,- very fine girls for their age."

When he turned ngnin, Toussaint "\YUS no longer beside his horse. He was at t he head of the 111:11·C ]1~

"'Vhat a sulky fellow' ho is !" muttered the plttllter, with n smile. "Tho airs of these people are curious cnongh. They take upon thC1U to despise Therese, wlio has 1110rc beauty than all his tribe, and almost as much cducn tion as t 11e learued 'I'oussaint himself."

He called to the sulky fellow, 110yrCYCI", and H18 sulky £eU(fH'" camo. Whnt Papalicr wanted to say ,Yas---

" Yon seem to know J1101'0 of these Spaniards than I. Whnt 'rill become of Tl1Cl't'SC, if I take 11('1' ~l1noJ1g thCIH; which, yon 80(', you oblig'o rue to do ? "

" I proposed to her," said Tonssaint" "t,o leave her with S01110 of QUI' people near Fort Dauphin."

"Fort Egalitc, yon luran. That is its present 11 tunc, yon know. So yon asked her! Why did you not speak to me nl;0ut it F It is my affair, not hers."

"I thought it, her affair. She will not remain behind, however, Sho begged me to sny llotIdllg to you abont her leaving

YOH. "

" Indeed! I will soon settle that.' Ana the planter illlJllC4

diately overtook the horse on which sat Therc'sc, with her iufnut on her arm. Therese smiled us she saw him coming , but the fil"st few words 11c said to her covered her face with tears. Blinded by these tears, she guided hcr horse among tho tough aloes which grc,v along the border of the bridle-path, and tho nninul1 stumbled, nearly jerking tho infant fr0111 her arms. Her master let her get over the difficulty as she might, while he rode on in the midst 01 the green track.

Placido disdained to ride. He strode nlong, singing in a low voice, with a package on his shoulders, and his path marked hy the fireflies, which flew round his head, or settled on his woollen cap. Isaac had made Aimee 118PPY by getting 011 her mule. Gcnurcde heard from tho direction in which they were, ROme-

TIlE HOUR »vr: THE MAN.

times smothered laughter, but" for the most part, a never-ending, low 111UrU1Ur of voices, as if they were telling one another interminable stories, Gellifl~cdo never could make out what Isaac and Aimee could 1)0 for ever talking about. She wondered that they could talk now", when every monkey-voice from the wood, eycry click of a frog from the ponds, every buzz of insects front the citron-hedge, struck fear int.o her. She did not fisk Placido to walk beside bel' horse; but she kept near that on w-hich her mother rode, behind Denis, who held a cart-whip, which he 'Y3S forbidden to crack an accomplislunent which he had learned from the driver of the plantation.

It soon beeume clenr that JC:l.ll had made activo usc of tho hours since he parted from 'I'onssaint. He 11111St have sent messengera in lonny directions; for, from bencnth t he shadow of every cacao groye, fr0111 under the brunches of many a clump of bamboos, from the recess of a ravine here frorn tho 1110uth of a green road there, beside the brawling brook, or from their conch among the canes, appeared negroes, singly or in gl'OUl!S~ ready to join tho t,ravelling party. Among all these, there wero 110 \V01UeU and children. They had been safely bc:-:;towed somewhere , and these men now regarded themselves as soldiers, going' to the camp of the allies, to servo against their old masters on heJwl£ of the king. "Vivo le Roi, ct l' nncien reg-iIne!" was the word as each detucluncnt JOIned ,"l, word most irritating to .Pnpalicr, \Y}lO thonght to himself many ti mos during this nigl1t, that he would have put all to hazard on his O\Y11 Pf;1ate, r:d-hpl' thnn have undertaken this march, if he hnel known tha! he "~H3 to he one of a company of ll(\grOf'S, gathering like the tCll1IH\''';r, in its In·ogress, and uttering at cvovy turuinsr, as if ill mockery of hill1self, "Vi,-e Ie ROl, ct Fnucicu rcginlo !" lIe grew· YCl'Y

- _.

cross, 'while quito SOJlsi hle of the llP("cssi ty of ftPIlCnrillg iu n go()(l

11100<1 to everyone except, indeed, poor ThtSreso.

" 'V e :l11(} f'ree tl1 i sis freedom ! ~, ~ai(l T()USIS:l in t more t han once as he lnid his ]wud ou the bridle of his wife's hOl"HC, :tJlil seemed illf':lpnhl0 of uttc\rll1g' any other words. He looked up at the to'vering trees, as jf measuring with his eye tho coluuinar palms, which nppf'nred to those ill their shade as if crowned with stars, He glanced into the forest with an eyA which, to l\Inrgot., tq)}lcared ns if it could pierce through darkness itself. He raised his fare in the direction of the central mountain-peaks, round which the white lig11tning w-as exploding from moment to mornent , and Margot saw that tears were streaming' Oll his fate -the first tears she had known hiru shed for years, " 'Ve arc free this is freedom!" he repeated, as he took off his CflP; " hut, thank God! we have the king for our master 110'V."

H Yon will come and sec us," said she. " We shall sec YOU

...

sometimes while you arc serving the killg."

41

"Y(·s." He was called a,vay hy another accession of nuruliers, a, party of four who ran dO'VIl Utllong' them from a monntuin path. Toussaint brushed away his unwonted tears, and went forward, he~]+ing a well-known voice inquire for Toussaint, Breda.

" Here I am, Jacques! ,; he exclaimed in some surprise, as he addressed himself to ft short, stont~built young negro. " You aro the first townsman lU110ng us, ,JacqllPs. Whore is old Dessalines ? "

,~ Here is Iny master," said J acques,

" Not the better for heing a master," said the old tiler, who 'was himself a negro. " I found myself 110 safer t.hau J acques ill the town : so I came away with him, and "'YO have been uruorur the rocks all day, tired enough.'}

" Hnve not you a horse for him P ,~, fiS ked .In ('(_lU(lS. Toussaiut

stepped back, to desire Aimee nud Isaac to giY0 up their 1111l1e to Dcssalines; but before it was done, Dcssalines was 111011l1tcd 011 Papalier's horse. J acques had told Papalier, on finding that ho had not been wnlking at all, that his horso was wanted, :n1(l Papalicl' had felt all tho danger of refusing to yield it up. Hp, was walking moodily by the side of Therese, when Toussaint offered him the mule, which he lulughtily declined.

When Dessalines waa mounted, Jacques carne running forward to Toussaint, to ask and to tell much concerning their sin gnb. r eircurns t an cos.

, ~"T" tv i t .,.". 1 1 " TI I 1 J'

• J.. our pal~ )T 18 .oo 110] sy, sm: ie. 10 W 10 0 C01111 (,1-)"" ] S

up; and I saw, not far off, two hours ago, a party that wer« bringing ammunition fr0111 Cap. There nHty bo 1110re; and, if ,YO fan in their way, with a white in C0111pauy - "

" 'I'rue, true." AIJd Toussaint turned back t-o command silence, He told eY(~ry 0110 thaf the safety of all Blight depend on the ut- 1110St possible degreo of quietness being oliservod. He separated Isaac from Aitucc, :lti tho only 'way of obtaining silt-nco from them, and 'warned the lllcrry blacks ill tho rear that they must

be still as death. He and -Iacqucs, however, exchanged a few more words in a low whisper, as they kept ill udvance of tlre pal'fy.

" How do they get annnunition from Cap P ,., asked Toussaint.

H Have they a party in the town P I thonght t·he town negro("s had been sent on board ship."

" 'I'he suspected ones are. They are the silly find the ha rmless who have still wit and mischief enough to giye out powder and hall slyly for the plantation negroes. Once over the river, what will you c10 with your party? "

"1\'1y wife and children will he safe with 111y brother Paul-syou know he fishes on the coast), opposite tho Seven Brothers. I shall enter the Spanish ranks; 'and cycry one else here "rill do as he thinks proper."

"Do not you call yourself a C0l11111ander, then! "\'V'-11Y do yon

,

42

TElE IJO[/'R A1\'D TIlE ltfAN.

not call us your rcghucllt, and t-ake the e011111UHUl as a lllutfer of course, as Jean has dono r "

" If it is desired, I am ready. Hark!"

There was evidently a party at some distance, numerous and somewhat noisy, and on tho approach frour behind. 'I'oussaint halted his party, quickly whispered his directions, and withdrew them with all speed and quietness within the blaek shade of a cacao plantation, on the left of the road. 'I'hey had to climb an ascent; but. there they found a ~rccn recess, so canopied with interwoven branches that no light could enter from the stars, and so hedged in by the cacao plants, grow'iug twelve feet high among the trees, that tho party could hardly have been seen from the road ill broad daylight. 'I'hero thoy stood crowded together in utter darkness and stillness, unless, as GCllifredc feared, the heatillg of her heart might bo hoard above the hum of the 1UOS· quito, or the occasional rustle of the foliage.

'I'he approaching troop came on, tramping', and sometimes sing-ing' and shouting. Those ill tho covert knew not whether most to dread it shouting which should agitate their horses, or a silence which Inight betray a 1110YCJllcnt on their l)art. 'I'his last seemed the most probable. The noise subsided; find when the troop was close at hand, onlv a stray voice 01" i "'''0 was singing. 'I'hoy had with them t ,YO or three trucks, drawn by men, 011 which were piled barrels of nrnnmnition. ~rhcy woro now ycry near. Whether it was that Therese, in feur of her infant cry. ing, pressed it so close to her bosom ns to awaken it" or whether tho ruuihliujr and tl'ttnlping along the rnad roused its sleeping

ear the child stirred, nlld bognn what l)rolniscrl to he a long shrill wnwl, if it had Hot been stopped, How it was stopped, thcjrclnhling, sickening mot hor hCl':->elf did not know. She only knew tlurt [L strong hanrl wrcncher] tJIC child £1'0111 her grusp in tho black darkness, au<l t,hat nIl wus still, unless, as she then anr] ever after had a. shuddering apprehension, there was somet hinsr of a S]ig}lt gurgle which reached her strainorl car. Her OW11 involuntary moan was stopped almost before it became It sound - stopped by a tal) on the shoulder, whoso authoritative touch she we 11 know,

No one else stirred for long after the troop had passed, Then Toussaint led his wife's horse down into the rond again, nnd tho party resumed their marc It as if nothing had hnppoucd.

" ltly child! " said Therese, fearfully. H Give me llly child! " She looked about, find saw" that 110 011e seemed to have the infant, "I will not let it cry," she said. H Give I11C back nly child! " " What is it? " asked Papalior, coming beside her horse, She told her grief, as 6118 prepared to spring down.

" No, keep your seat ~ Don't get down," said he, in a tone 8110 dared not disobey. " I 'will inquire for the child."

43

He went away, find returned without if.

" This is a sad thinsr," sni(l he, leadi1lg' her horso for,ral'c1 wi t h

...._ 1 __ "

tho rest. " No one kno-ws nnything about the poor thing. "1J1Y

did yon lot it go ? "

" Have you asked them an? Who snatched it from Inc? 011,

ask w 110 took itl Lot 1110 look for it. I '\T ill I "ill ... "

" It is too late HOlt. vV e C.'1UllOt stop 01" turn back, 'I'heso sad accidents will happen at such Liuies.'

"Lea ve 1110 behind 0]1, leave 1110 ill tJle wood l I call £\>llo"\,~ when Lha ,"c £01111(1 it. Lea ve me l)c hind ! "

t, I cannot spare YOH, llly dear. I should Heyer sec yon ngoain;

and I cannot spare yon. It is sad enough to h:1YC lost the child."

"It was your child,' said she, plc[l(lillgly.

" And you are urine too, Illy dear. I cannot, spare you both." Therese had never felt before. All that had 1110ycd her dnrhlg'

her yet short life-all emotions ill one "ere nothing to t lre passion of this 1110111Cllt tho conditional }Jtltrcd that swelled her s0111 ; conditionul for, fr0111 moment to moment. she believed HHel disbelieved that Papalier had destroyed her child. The thOl1ght somcl imcs occurred that, he was not the only cruel one. No one Sl'CHICd to pity or ('nrc for her ]lot C1TCll :Thlnrgot: 01' the gir1s C(1111l) 11(~~11~ 11('1·. S]l(~ 111()1~C t,11:111 once wn s about to S(~~~]~ and

appeal to t helll; hut, her muster held her h1'h11c, and would uot permit her to stop or turn. saying oeensiollally t llat. the Iivc« of ull depended on perfect quiet Dud order in the marvlr. 1V11(,Il t,lley nrrived at the cross, at the junction of the four roads, they halted, and there she t ohl her story, fiud wns convinced that tho grieved women knew llotlri1lg of her loss till that moment. I t

was too Into now for anything hut eourpnssiou.

Jean lTrallc;ais soon appeared "Tith a troop so ]lUnICrOHS, that all necessity for cant ion null quiet, 1YHS oyer. 'I'lu-y could hartlly meet all equal force during tho remainder of the- march, aut] lnight safely make tho forests find ravines or'110 to their pl'OgTCSS. Jean took off his cocked hat in salntillg' 'I'on-saint, and ('0111- mendod 11is IHulctuulityand his tH'rflng-eulcuts.

" Jean alway« admires what Illy Iiuslmud does," observed

1Iargot to her ncqnuintance Jacques. " You hear how he is

praising him £01' what he has dono to-night,"

"To be sure. Everybody praises 'I'oussaiut Breda," replied Jacques.

The wife Innghed with delight.

"Eyerybody praises him .hut 1110," pursued Jncqucs, "I find fanlt with him sometimos ; and to-night particularly."

" Then yon nrc ,vrollg, Jacques. You know" you have everybody ng-ninst, yon."

" 'I'imo will show that I ani rlght. ThUG will show the rnischio] of sending a\yay any whites to do us hnrru in far conntries."

44

THE fJOUR AND TIlE J}fAN.

" 01), you do not blame him for helping away M. Bnyou! )' " Y es, I (10,"

" ,.\T 11 ,T, we ha \TO been under him ever siuce ',","0 were c 11il(11~Cll

••

· aut] a kind youth he ,,"as then. And he taught llly husband 10

l'C'at1, find made him his coachman , and then he made him overseer; ana he has alwnys hululgecl the children, and ahyttys hought Illy young guillca-fu,yl, and- ..»

H I kno"\v that. All that will uot 'prevent tho mischief of helping him away. Toussaint ought to have seen that if we sonrl our masters to all U18 four sides of the world, they "rill bring the world dOW11 npon us."

" Perhaps Toussaint did 800 it," said the man himself, from the other side of his wife's horse. " But he SlHV another thiug'. too that any whites who stayed would be murdered."

" That is true enough; and murdered they ought to be. They arc a race of tyrants and rebels that our warm island hates."

,;, N ohody hatcd M. Bayou." said J\tlargot.

, Y (is, I did. Every ouo who loves tho blacks 11UtCS the

1 it " w 11 f~S~

h I think not," said 'I'oussniut. "At least, it is not so with Him who made them both. He is pleased with l11ercy, .Iacques, and not: with 11111 rdc 1-. "

J acqucs Iaugherl, find muttered something about the priests having' bepll hrought in by the wlrites fOl' a (loHYeuienee; to which 'I'oussnint ]JH11'ely l'<-,}?licd t hat, it was not a prie:sf" nor fill ally of white masters, ,,,"110 forgave His enemies on tho cross.

" Fatllcr,'~ said PJacide, joini ug 1 he gronp, '~'vhy is ,J l'(l H ("OUlllUHH1il)g yonl" march ? He spl'uk-s to you as if you were H1H1t".'1· him. "

,.: Bee ~11 L~ (~ ] 1 (~ COl1Si (_1(~ 1\5 it] 1 i ~ 111(1 rc 11."

"Ho pl'ai~('d your f'atlJ(ll' YL'ry much, P1neidp," said his 111 ( ) t 11 C l~ tt

.• Yes just as if tlly father "~Cl'O under 11111\-· as if the nuuch were not 01ll'S. lV o begall i t."

,;; I co nunruul t.hose ,,'110 begun it- t,lUlt is, IUY O"~Jl fami ly, I'llaL"idn. 1 conunaud yuu to ubey J"f'nn, while you nrc witl: him. (In the oth(ll" side the river-, you ~han be vouuuandcr, nll {he 'vny to yonr uncle's honse. Yon will follow his lead, l\fargot, ? ~,

., 0 h, yes, if he leads stl'tlight. Jean is a commander, P](]eide.

Look ut his cocked ]l:lt~"

" Aud Iie calls 111111Sl,lf C0111111~\11(lcl'-ill-cllil~f ()t t.110 nrmics of France.'

" In St. Domingo. "T e11, so he is," said TOllssaint,. smiling, and pointing to the troop, "H(~l'e are the armies of tho King or FTHllC'C in St. Domingo : a nrl here J eau C0111111nntls."

At this moment, .Icau made 111'0 elamati on for Toussaint Breda ; and Toussaint joined him, leaving" his wife saying, "You see he

45

wants Illy husband at every turn. I am SUl'O he thinks a great deal of my husband."

" 'I'oussaint," said Jean, " I shall iut roduee you to the .Marquis d'Hennoua , and I have no doubt be will give you a command."

" I shall introduce myself to him, J ean."

.. But he will be expecting you. lie will receive you according to my report as a InUIl of ability, and a most valuable officer. I sent messengers fOl"1rard to tell hiru of Iny approach with reinforcemeuts : and I gave a. prodigious report of you."

" Still I shall speak for myself, J ean."

"What I now have to ask of you is, thut you will dress like an officer like me. The uniform is, on tho whole, of 110 grea.t eonscqucuee at, this season, when tho whites wear all tho Iineu, aurl as little cloth ns thoy call. Bu-t the hat, Toussaint -tlie hat ! You will not show yourself to the l\Iarquis d"Ht'l"lllVIUL in a cap ! For Jny snke, do not show yourself t.ill you have pro~ cured a cocked hat.'

H Whore did you got yom-s, Jean? "

J euu could only say that it was from one w-ho would never want it. agaill.

" 'V e ,,,ill go as we nrc," sa id 'I'oussniut. "Y ou look like a eOllHlHllH.ler, as you nrc ana I look -what I tun, 'I'oussaiut

B 1 " ret a,

"But he ,,,,ill not believe what I shall say of you, if he sees a mere common negro."

~ ,. Then let him disbelieve, till I lU1YC shown what I am. 'Ve shall finll daylight on tho other side this ridge."

They had been for some time ascending the ridge which lies north anil south hctlYeen Fort Dauphin and tho riYer 1l:1asst1crc, the Spanish boundary. In the covert of the woods which clot herl the slope all "'US yet darkness; hut "Then the trnvel lers could eatch a g1i1l1pSe upwards throngh the illt.erWOycn hrunt-hes. they saw that the stars wore gr<Hvillg pale, n nrl that the heavens WCTe fllliug wit.h a yellower light. Ou C1ILPl'_g'Lllg f'rom tho woods ou the suuuuit of the ridg'e, they fOUIHI tllat IHOl'lliug' W·W·_; indeed

L ~

C01He, though the sun was not yet visible. Thoro '\THS a halt, as

if the troops 110'''' fat'iug the east wuuld wni t for his nppcamnce. To the Ieft, where the ridge sank down into the sea, lay Mancenille Bay, whoso dark grey waters, smooth as glass, as they rolled in upon the shore, began to show lines of light along their 8w·e11. A dim sail or two, small and motionless, told thu t the fishermen were abroad. From this bay, the river ]Hnsstlcre led the eyo along the plain which lay under the feet of t.hc troops, and bet-ween this ridge and another, darkly wooded, which bounded tJ1C valley to the east; while to the south-east, the view was closed ill by the mass of peaks of the Cibao gronp of mountaius. At the first moment, these peaks, rising eight thOUS3UU

,.

THE HOUR AND THE AfAN.

feet from the plain, appenred hard, cold, and grey, between the white clouds that encumbered their middle height and tho kindling sky. But from moment to moment their aspect softened. 'I'ho grey melted into lilac, yellow, and a faint blushiug' reel, till the stark, barren crRgs appeared bathed in the hues of the soft yielding clouds which opened to let forth the SUllo The mists were then seen to he stirring, rising, curling, sailing, rolling, as if the breezes were imprisoned among them, aud struggling to come forth. The breezes came, and, as it seemed, from those peaks, The woods bent before them at one sweep, The bauyan-tree, a grove in itself, trembled through all its leafy columns, and shook off its dews in a wide circle, like the return 8110",·e1' of a playing fountain, Myriads or palms which covered the uplands, ti ll now still as a sleeping host beneath the stars, bowed their plumed heads as tIle winds went forth, and shook off dews and slumber from the gorgeous parasitic beauties which thoy sustained. With tho first ray that the sun levelled alliollg the wocda, these matted creepers shook their flo,vcry festoons, their twined, green ropes, btndded with ope,ning blossoms and hells, 11\01'0 gay than the burnished insects and gorgeous hil'd~ ,\y hirh flitted ftllloug their tangles. In tho plnill, the rjvcr no longer glinUllel'ed grey through the mists, hut glittered golaf'u tilJl(JUg' tho meadows, UPOll whicl: the ,yj]d cnttle were descendjug fl'~ln the clefts of the hills. Bnck to tho north the r iver led tIlt; cy«, past the cluster of liuuters' huts on the lllal'gill~' pnst the post where the Spanish Hag was fiyi llg' , and whouco the early dl'lUtl \YUS sounding -past a slope of arrowy ferns here, [t f,(l'OYO of loft.y cocoa-nut tl'ees t.licre , once tuore to the bay, uow di{nllolld~btl'C'Yll, flEd roe killg" au its 1 \(lSOln the hon is, whose sai l~ were JlI)\'~T specks of light iil ('outras-L with {be hlack 1sh·i:-; of i-h0 SC'rt':ll ilrothers, which caught the eye as if ju.st risen from tl1C sea.

~. :?\ 0 windmills here ! N o cnUlc-lllills!~' the negroes were heard saying to OIlO another. .. No cnnes, no sugar-houses, 110 tonms, no overseers' 110USCS, no Oyel'BCCl"S 1 By God, it is a fine place, this! So we arc going down there to be soldiers to tho king! those cattle are wild, and yonder are the hunters going out! By God, it is a fine place ! "

In somewhat different, ·ways, c\rory 0110 present" hut Pupalier and rrherese, was indulging the SUJue mood of thought. 'I'horo was a 'wildness in the scene which made tho heart beat high with the sense of freedom. FOl- 801]10 the emotion seemed too strong. Toussaint pointed out to his boys the path on tl10 other side of the river which would lead them to the point of Hie shore nearest to Paul's hut, instructed thorn how to fiud 01" mnko a hnbitatiou for their mother and sisters till he could visit them, gave his wife a letter to his brother, and, eXCC1)t to bid his family

47

a brief farewell for a brief time, spoke no more till he reached the Spanish post, and inquired for tJ10 general.

JeHu stepped before him info the gCllel'al's presence, tNking' possession of the centro of the green space before the tent" "here the Marquis d'Herrnona was enjoying the coolness of the morning. After having duly declared his OW11 importance, and announced the accession of numbers he was likely to bring, J can proceeded to extol To~s:;ail1t as ?lle ?f tl~e valnnblea he IHHl brought. Aft.er apologisiug for Ins friend s want of it cocked hat, he proceeded to exhibit his learning, declaring that he bad studied "Plutarch," "Coosar's Conunentaries," U Elpictctue," "Marshal Saxe's Military Reveries "

Here he was stopped by the grasp of Toussaint's hand upon his arm. Toussaint told the general that he came alone, without chief and wi thout follo,vel~s: tho few men W 110 had left

· Breda with him having ranged themselves with tho force of Jean Francais, He eame alono to offer the strength of llis arm, on behalf of his king, to the allies of royalist France.

The Spanish soldiers, \\'110 glitt.ered all around in t.hcir nrms nnd bright uniform, looked upon tho somewhat gaunt negro in his plantation dress, dusty wit h travel, and his woollen eap in hnnd, and thought, probably, that the king of Franco would not be much aided by such an ally. It is probahle ; for a 81n110 went round, in which J can j oinod. It is probable that the Marquis d'Hel'lllOIHL thought difforcnt ly, for he sidd-

" The strength of YOlU' arm l Good! And the strcllgt.h of your head, too, I hope. W 0 get l1lO1'O anus tliau heads from your side of the frontier. Is it true that yon have studiud tho art of war P "

" I have studied it ill hooks."

'" ,r cry well. lV C lvnut oiJ:iccl's for onr hltlCk iroop,s-all ,,"'c can raise ill the present crisis. You will have the rank of colonel ill a regilllcnt to be iuuuedintcly orguuiscd, Arc yon content? "

Toussaint signified Iris assent, uud orders 'were giycn for a tent to be prepared for his present repose. He looked around, as if for SOBle ouo \Vh01l1 he diclnot sec. au being asked, he said that if there "as at the post a priest ,,110 spoke French, he could wish to converse with him .

.. Laxabon understauds French, I think," said tho marquis to a gcnt.lenulll of his staff. The aide assented.

" Your excellent desire shall be gratified," said the general. "I doubt not Father Laxabon will presently visit you ill your tout."

Father Laxabon had heard rumours of the horrors perpetrated in the French colony within the last two nights. On heing told that his attcudauce was equully desired by a fugitive negro, he recoiled for a lU011l0nt from what ho luight have to hear.

When he entered tho tent, he found 'I'oussaint alone', on

THE r/ou« _4ND THE IlfAIV.

t he ground) his bosom bursting with deep and thick-coming sobs.

" How is this: Illy SOl1 P " said the priest. "Is this grief, 01' is it penitcneo P "

,. I am free," said Toussaint, •• and I am an oppression to

myself. I did not seek freedom. I was at ease, aud did not desire it, seeing how men abuse their frcedolll.J'

,. You must 110t, then, abuse your freedom, my son," said the priest, wholly relieved.

"How shall I appear before G-od I who have ever been guided, and who know not whether I can guido myself 111Y mastor gOllO Iny employment gone and I, by his will, a freo man, but unprepared, unfit? Receive Illy confession, father, aurl guide me from this time."

"--VVillingly, Illy sou. He who lias appointed it new lot to you will enable me to guide you ill it.."

The tent was closed; and 'I'oussaiut kneeled to relieve his full heart 11'0111 its new sense of ft'cedolll, by subjecting himself to a tusk .. master of t 11e SOlI1.

C}IJ\PTER V.

1fARGOT doubted much, a.t tho end of the first week, and at the end of every following week, whether she liked freedom. Margot had had Ie,v cares during' the luallY years t.hat she had liver] nuder the mild rule of 1\1. Bayou her "husband faithful find kind, and her children provided for without present anxiety 011 her part, Thoughts of the future would, it is true, occasional ly trouble Iier, as she knew" they 1veigJlcd heavily on her husband's miud, When she saw G611ifrede growiug up. hand. some in her l)urents' eyes, and so tiuiir] aud reserved that her fa thor sometimes said he wondered w hoi-her anyone would eyer know her mind better than her OW11 family did when },Iargot looked upon GClli£l'cdc, and considered that her lot in life depended on the wil] of 1\1. Bayou, she shuddered to think what it lllight he. When M. Bayou told Gcnifredo that sho was well coifiee, or that he wished she would show the other girls ainoug the house-negroes how to make their Sunday go\vns sit like hers, Genifrede invariably appeared not to hear, and often walked away in the midst of the speech; and then her mother could not but wonder how she would conduct herself, whenever the day should come that must COllIQ, when (as there was no one on the Breda estate whom Gcnifrede liked) or would associate with)

MARGOT's CARES~

49

M. Bayou should bring some ODe to their cottage, and desire Geni£rede to marry him. When l\Iargot looked 11}1011 her sons, and upon Aimee, DO\V so inseparable from Isaac, and considered that their remaining together depended not only on ~I. Bayou's will, but on his life, she trembled Jest the day should he at hand when Placide might be carried aw·ay northward, find Isaac eastward, and poor Aimee left desolat.e. Such had been the mot hers IlRssing cares in t.he sitnatiou in which nothinjr had been "ranting to her imruediate comfort. .Now, amidst the perplexities of her new set.tleruent. she "rag apt to forget tllnt she had fUl"lllerly had finy cares.

\Vhere to house t.he purty had her-u the first difficulty. But for old Dessalincs, who, being' 110 soldier, had chosen to hide hiltlsel£ in tl]c samo retreat ·with rhein, they would lUll'(Ur have had good shelter bof'ore i he ruins. Paul hn.I received t hem kindly; hut Pnnl's k inrluess "US of a some whu t iudolcn t sort : and it was doubtful whether he would have pl"l)el~e(lefl bcyourl looking round his hut, anrl hunenting t lJat. it, "THS 110 bigger, if his spirited SOll Moyse, a fine lad of sixteen, 11:H1 not, been t herl~ t.o do something more effectual, in finding the place aurl the materiu!s for tho old tiler to hegin his work. It was Moyse ,,,"110 convinced the whole party from the plain that a hut, of bambon and palm-leaves would fall in an hour hcforc nne of the hail .. storms of this rocky coast; and that it would not, do to build on the sands, lest 80Jno high tide should wash bheru all a\V"ay ill

'the night. It was .Moysc who led his consins to the part of the beach "here portions of wrecks were most likely to be I'ound, aud who lent the strongest hand to remove such beams and planks as Dessalines wanted for his 'York. A house large ('Hough to hold the fnmi ly was soon covered in. It looked "ell. l)erdie(l 011 n l)latfol'JH of rock, and secllll11g to uost le in a recess

of t he huge precipices which l'O~C he1l111<1 it, It, ]o()kc(l well, us Dessn lines could obtain neit her of his fuvotu-ito pn iIlt,s to smear it wit 11. It stood, ueit her red uor hlue, bn t nearly t hu r-olonr of the 1'0("1\::,;, aguiust which it. Icau.«l , and thul ched with p(thn~ leaves, which projected so fnI' as to t hrow off t he rnius, oven i 0 n (lepth helow".

Paul provided fish as lunch as his relations e hose to have : but the young people chose to have many other things, under t he guidance of Moyse : and here lay their iuothors daily care. She believed that both boys and girls rau into a thousand dangers, and no one would help her to restrain flrem. .Paul had always let Moyse have his own way ; and Dcssnliues, when he had brought in drift-wood for her fires, which he daily chose to do, lay down in the sun when the S11n shone, find before the fire when the clouds gathered, and slept aW'ay the hours. Paul wanted help ill his fishillg; nud it 'YHS commonly ISRnc who went

D

50

with him ; for Isaac was 11101'0 fond of boat.ing thnn rambling. Where Isaac was, there WRS Aimee. She gaye no contemptible help ill drawing in the nets; and when the fish was landed) she and Isaac sat for hours among tho llUll1groves which bordered the neighbouring cove, under pretence of cleaning tho fish, or of mending the nets) or of watching the crnnes which stalked about the sands. Sometimes, in order to be yet 11101'0 secure from disturbance, the brot-her and sister would put off again, when they had landed Panl with his prize, and get) npon the coral reef, half a mile off ill calm weather collecting tho shell-fish which wore strewed there ill mult itudos, and ,,"atching the while the freaks and sports of the dolphins in the clear depths around; aud in windy weather sitting in the midst of the spray, which was dashed over them from the heavy seas outside. l\fallY times in a morning or evening did 1\IUl'got look out £1'0111 her doorway, and see their dusky IOrlTIS upon the reef, now sitting motionless in talk, now stooping for mussels and crabs, and never till tho last 1110111Cllt in the bonr on their way homo. Sometimes Denis was with them sometimes with her but oftenest with the party led hv Movse.

.... e,J

IVfoysc had first, enticed Gcnifrcdo up tho rocks behind their

dwelling', to get grass for hammocks, aud to rnako muttiug for tho floors. Ahnost from tho first day, it appeal'eel us if GCllifrede's fears all melted away ill tho presence of l\Ioysc; and her mother became sure of this when, nftr-r g'l'ass enoujrh had been procured, Gellifrccle continued to neeOlupallY IJlncir10 and 'Moyse in their almost daily expeditions for sporting and pleasure. They brought gnanHs, tender young monkeys, find cocoa-nuts frOID the wood, wild kids from tho rock, delicate ducks from tho monnt aiu-ponds. fi1ld sometimes n hog 01' a calf £1'01ll tho rlrovcs ;111(1 herr 18 ,,'"11ie]1 fl()111·jsl1t'(1 ill t J io i-ich snv illl} It1] IS on i ho SOllt.JICI·]l

side, on which they looked dO'Yll fro1H tJleir l'idg'f', III the joy of seeillg" her children horne ng-aill, glaa~H)j)lO HS thor were, and feeling thut they brought plenty and luxury into her cottage, 2\[argot kept her cares to herself', £1'0111 day to rlny, and did DOt interfere with their proceedings. She sometimes thought she was foolish, and always was glnd to sec them eujoying their freedom : but still, she felt doubtful whether she herself had not been happier fit Breda. The only time when her heart was completely at case and exulting was when Toussaint came to see his family, to open his heart to his wife, and to smile nW'ay her troubles. Her heart, exulted when she SU1V him cross the ridge, with a mounted priyate behind him, HJ.·gO his horse down the ascent, gallop along the sands to the foot of the rocks, throw the bridle to his attendant, aud 1l10Ul1t to the platform, looking up as he approached, to see whether she was on the watch. She 'was nhYHYS 011 the watch. She liked to admire his uniform,

•

TOUSSAINTS SUCCRSSES.

51

and to hear his sword clatter as 119 walked. She likecl to sec him looking more Imporfant, more dignified, than Bayou 01' Papalior had ever appeared in her eyes. Then, her heart was always fnll of tllOl1ghts about their children, which he waa as anxious to hear as she to tell; ancI he was the only one £r0111 whom she could learn a.nythhlg of whnf was going 011 in the "World, or of what prospects lay before fheruselves. He brought news from France, £ro111 Cap find tho plain, and, after fL while, £1'0]11 America that M. Bayou was settled at Baltimore, where he intended to romain till, as he said, the pncifieatiou of the colony should enable him to return to Breda. There was 110 fear, as Tonssaint always found, but that J\Inrgot would be looking out for him,

Tho tidings he brought were never TCl'Y joyous, and of ton sad enough. He said little of his personal cares; but J\Inrgot gathered that he found it difficult to keep on good terms with J ean. Once he hacl resigned his rank of colonel, and had assumed an office of which J ean could not be jealous that of physician to the forces an office for which he was qualified by an early and extensive acquaintance with the common diseases of tho country, find the natural remedies provided by its soil. When the ~larquis d'Hernlona had insisted upon his resuming his corumaud., as the best officer tho negro forces could boast, Jean had purposed to arrest him on some frivolous charge, and the foolish net had only been prevented by a frank and strong remonstrance from his old friend. All this time, Toussaint's nrilitary successes had been great; and his name now struck such awe into the lawless forces of the insurgent blacks, that it was unnrees~ary £01' Iiim to shed their blood .. He held the post of l\Iarll1f11ndc, and from t hcncc was present 'lith such unheard-of rapidity of march, wln-rever violence lnlS oxpecterl, that the spirit, of outrage thronghout the ()OIOllY was, fit length, kept, ill check. This peaceful mode of F\tnndillg by the rights of t 110 king wns 11l0rC acccpta blo to tho gentle 'I'oussaint than the warfare hy ,,~hi("h 110 had guinecl llis power over his own race; but he know well that things could not go on as they were that order of SOI110 kind must be established order which could be reached only through a fierce final struggle; and of what nature this order was to be, depended wholly upon the turn which affairs took in Europe.

He rarely brought good llO'V8 £1'0111 abroad. His countenance always gre,v sad when l\Iargot asked what ships had arrived from France since his last visit, First he had to tell her that the people of Paris had met in tho Champ de Mars, and demanded the dethronement of the king; then, that Danton had audaciously informed the representatives of France that their refusal to declare the throne vacant would be the signal for a general insurrection. After this, 110 national calruuit y cnuld surprise the

D2

loyal colonists, Toussaint said; £01' the fnto of Louis as a ki]lg, if not as a luau, 'was decided. Accordingly, there followed luuniliations, deposition, imprisonment, during which litt 10 could be known of the mind, and even of tho condition of the king = and those who would have served him remained in nnxious suspense.

It, happened, one warm dny in the spring, when eyer, trace of the winter hail-srorms had passed away, th:lt, the "Thol~~ p:n·ty were amusing themselves in trying to collect cnon~h of the ripe1l111g sea-side grape for :t feast. The hright round lenses were broad and abundant; hut t.he clusters of the lrnit) were yet only of a IHl]o yellow, and a berry 11(\1'0 find th(lro wns all that was fit for gathering. The grnpe-gnthcl'ing was little more than a pretence for basking in the SU11, or for lounging ill tho sJ13l1e ()f tho abundaut verdure, wl 11 ell soemed to have been ROWll by th« hurricane, Rna watererl hv the w iutrv surf, so

... .... ...

luxuriantly llill it sprillg £1'0]11 1 he sands n ntl the salt 1YHY('S.

The stately manchiucel OYt'rhullg the t ide : the nunurrove» :-;Pl'flllg out of Hlo wators , the sea-side grape overspread tho sands with a thick grecn carpet, and kllpt them cool, so that as the Inunau foot song-llt tho sput ~ HIe glHh1ring' Iizn rds for:-;ook it, and darted nway to seek the hot f.u-e of the 1'0("k. For full ]1:\1£ a mile this pate h of verdure spread; and OY("l" t Iiispace were dispersed l\Iargot and her household, when 'I'oussaiut crossed the ri(lge, on one of his frequent visits. As he .lesccuded, he heard laughter HIla singing; and among the singing voices, the cracked l)ipe of old Dessaliucs. Toussaint grie,·ed to interrupt this mirt h, fiuel to t hink that he must Icnvo (lull and sad those whom he f'our«] so gny. Bnt he (1:11lle with bacl llC\VS'I aur] on a mourufu l (,I'1"alH.l~ and there was 110 lll'lp for it..

As JlO }Jl'iek('d on his hOi'Sf' towards the pnrty, the youug 1'('Upt(-1 ~et up a shout nut! b!lg'all to run towards him, hut, stoppel! short OIl f.;C'l'ilJg" lrow unu-ua lly In_l'g'n a traiu he hronght. Fi ve 01' six mounted soldiers, instcud of OIW, foIlowpd hi m this t imc, and they l(~d sovcral horscs.

L,. Oh, you arc come to take us home ! " cr icd Marjrct, joyfully,

ns .~11e 111Ct· 11i111.

If 0 sl)ook his henrl as he J'Pplipd---

•• No, Margot, not yet, Bn t the time may come.'

,. I wish you could tell us when it lV01U(} COllH'," snir] D(ls~:l ~ lines. '" It is all yery well gatllcrillg these t.hiug s, UIHI callingthem grapes, for want of better; but give me the grapes that yield one wine. I wonder who has been gathering the grapeH from Iny trellis all this ti III o , while, the whole rainy season through, not a drop did I taste? I wish you had left your revolntions and nonsense till after ]l1Y thnc, that I Illig-lit have sat nuder Illy O'Y11 vine and nly own fig-tree, as the pl'je~t StlJRt till tho end of mydays."

53

~, Indeed I wish so too, Dessalines. But yon shall have S0111e

.. "

,,"'Ule ~

"Ay, send us S01110. J acques wil l tell yon whnt I like'.

Don't forget, 'I'oussaint Breda. They talk of palm wine in tho season; but I do not believe we shall get any worth drinking fr0111 the palms hereabouts."

" vVhat is tIle matter with our 1:>811118? " cried !tIoy-se, firing up for the honour of the northern coast. "I will get you n cabbage for dinner CYCl'Y day for a mouth to como," he added, morleratiuu his tone under his uncle's eye "evcry dHY.t till you say that our palms, too, are ns good as a.ny you have in tho

plain; and as for palm wino, when the season comes ,.,

" No, let me-let iuo cut the cabbagc l " cried Dellis. " I can climb as quick as a monkey 11 ow a hundred feet in two minutes. Let 11lC eHulb the palmetto, l\foysc."

U First take back Illy horse to thoso soldiers, my boy," said his father, setting Dellis upon his horse, " and then lot us all 81t. down ] 1 CI-P ill th f) sl: :1 (1 c. "

" All those horses,' said ~Iargot, anxiously: l. whnt is to be dono with them to-day P There are so !lUlUY !"

"They will return presently." replied her husband, '. I ain not going to stay with you to-day. And, l\.Iargot, I shall t ak« the lads with 1110, if they are disposed to go. q

., 'I'he lads! my boys ! "

'" Yes," said Toussaint, t.hrowiug h irnself down in the shad«. ;, OUl"' country and its people arc orphaned; and the youngest of us must IlO\Y make himself a soldier, that he may be ready fo r any turn of affairs which Providence lllay appoint. Do YUH hear, In y boys P "

" Yes, father," nusworcd Plu<'i<1o in an earnest tone,

" They hare then lllUrdel'cd t:l,e king?" w;ked 1Hargot; "or did he dil\ of his iuuuisomut-uf r "

,. 'I'hoy bl'ong'ht him to trial, and ('xf'('ntcd him. 'I'hc npes plucked down i he ('yelling star, :U1(l quenched if, vYo lIn \'0 110 king. "\V c and our couutry arc orphaned."

After a pan~e, Paul said -

"It is enough to make one lea ve one \; fishi.ng, and take up agull.~' " I rejoice to hear you say so, brother." said 'I'oussaiut.

" Then, father, you will let me go," crie<ll\foyse. "Yon will give Inc your guu, and let 111e go tv the camp."

,. Yes, It'foyse: rather you than I. You nre a stout lad now', and I kuo\v nothing of Cltlnps.. Y Oil shall take the gUll, aUll I will stay and fish."

H Leave your father his gun, if he chooses to remain, 1rIoyse.

We will find arms for you. Placido! Isaac! n he continued, looking' frnm one to the other of his sons .

•• And Denis," cried the buy, plaeiug hiulself directly in his

54

THE HOUR AAiD THE MAN.

father's eye, as he returned breathless from the discharge of his errand.

"Yns, Iny boy, by-and-by, when you are as strong as

Placido. You shall come to tho canrp when we want yon." " I will go to-clay, father," said r'lacicle.

" WIlat to do ? " said Isaac. "I do not understand.'

Other eyes besides Aimee's were fixed on Toussaint's face, ill anxiety for his reply,

" I do not know", Iny S011, what ,YO are to do next. When the parent of a nation dies, it may take some fimc to decide what is the duty of those who feel themselves bereaved. All I 110W· am sure of is, that it cannot but be right for nly children to be fitted to serve their country in filly 'YfiY that tbcy luay find to he uppoiuted. I wish to train you to arms, and the t ime has como, Do not you think so ? "

Isaac made no direct reply, and Aimee had strong hopes that he was prepared with 801n8 wise, unanswerable reason for remaining where he was, .Mcanwhilc, his lather l)rocccded--

" In an that I have done, ill all that I now say, I have the sanction of Fa thor Laxa bon.'

H Then all is right., 1V8 luay he sure," said l\Iflrgot,. " I have 110 doubt you would be right, if you had not Father Laxa bon to consult; but if he thinks you right., everything must be dono as you wish, My boys," pursued the tearful mother, "you must go with your father: you hear Father Laxabon thinks so."

" Do you think so? " whispered AiIl1ee to Isaac.

He pressed her arm, which was within his, in token of silence, " .. hile his fatl1cr went on :

" You heard the proclamatiou I sent out among our people a few weeks ago."

,. Yes," Raid .Placide : ,,; that in which you ten them t.]lut you

vrefcr Sel'rillg' with Spaniards who own a killg~ than with French "T" ho owu 110 ne."

, , Yes. I 11a '''£1 had to make the same declaration to the two commissaries W1l0 have arrived at C~tP under orders from the regicides at Paris. These commissaries have to-day invited me to their standard by promises of favour and consideration."

"What do they promise us P " asked Margot eagerly.

" N othing that we can accept. I have written a letter in reply, Raying that I cannot yield myself to tho will of any member of the nation, seeing that, since nations began, obedience has been due only to kings. We have lost the king of France; but we are beloved by the monarch of Spain, who faithfully rewards our services, and never intermits his protection and indulgence, Thus, I cannot acknowledge the authority of these comrnissaries till they shall have enthroned a king. Such is tho letter which, guided by Father Laxahon, I have written,"

F'REL'DOJ/' .. c,,· /l'I:_'QUl REJEEN7'S.

~~ It is a bcaurifui Ietter, I an: sure," said !fargot. ., Is it not, Paul "

,t- •

" I don't doubt Father Laxabou is right ," said Dessuliucs ; ,. only I do not seo the n.~e of 11:1. ,"jug a. kiHg, if l-~eopl0 arc tnrHcd out of house and h01110 for being loyal-us we all nrc. If we had not cared auythinjr about the kiugs quarrel, ,YC might have hecn under our vines at JI01ne, as I have of ton said before."

" And how would it have been with us here? " said 'I'oussaint, laying his hand Oll his hreast.

,_ Put your hand a little Iower, and I say it would have been

• •

all the better for us," said the old negro, laughing, "for ,YO

should not hare gOllO without wino all this time."

"What do you think?" Aimee, as usual, asked Isaac.

" I think it was good £01' Illy father to be loyal fa the king, as long 3S the king lived. I think it. was good £01' 118 to he liying here free, 'lith time to consider what w-e should do next. Ana I think it has lulppcncd Ycry ,yoll tlInt Illy father has shown what a soldier he is, which he could not so "ell have done if ,YO had staved a t Breda. As fOl~ DC.SS~11i lICS, 110 i.s best "T ]1e1'0 the vi ues

..

grow thickest, or where t·JIe CCl1ill'S are deCIJest. It is a. pity he

should huvc taken upon hint to he loyal."

" And what do you think of goiug to the Ctlll1P with 111Y father?

Look at. Moyse Iiow c1eljgJlted he is ! "

Moyse certainly did look possessed with joy. He was rapidly telling all his warlike intentions to Genifrcde, who ""US looking in his face with a. countenance of fear and grief.

" You think nothing of us,' she cried at length, giving way to a passion of tears. " We have been so happy here, all together; nud now you are glad to go, and lea ve us behind! Y on will go nud fight, without caring" for us-you will be killed in this horrid war, and wo shall never sec you n.gniu we shall never kn01Y what has become of you."

Moyse~s militnry fire was instunt ly quenched. If, inuuediatcly appeared to him the greatest of miseries to have to leave hi-. eousins. He assured Genifredc he could not really intend to go. He had only been fancying what a war with the 'rhite masters would be. He hated tho whites heartily; but he loved this place much more. Placido and Isaac might go, but he should stay. Nothing should l)art him from those he Iovcd best.

Toussaint was not unmindful of what was passing. Geni. frede's tones of distress, and Moyse's protestations, aU reached his car. He turned, and gently drew his daughter towards him.

" My child," saiu he, "we are no IOllger what we have been- · slaves, whose strength is ill the "Till of their masters. We are free; and to be free requires a strong heart, in worneu as well as in men, When Th1. Bayou was our master, we rose and slept e"cry day alike, and went out to our work, and came ill to our

food, without having to think OI anything" beyond. Now we are free, and God has raised us to the diffieult duties which ,YO 1U1ye always reverenced ill the whites. ", e men must leave our horues to live ill C3U1PS, and, if l1cccssary~ to fight; and you, women and girls, 11111St make it easy for us to do our duty. Yon must be willing' to see us go· glad to spare us and you must pray to God that we may not return till our duty is done."

" I cannot - I shall not," Genifredc muttered to herself, as sll{~· cast down her eyes under her father's compassionate gnze. He looked towards Aimee, who answered, with tearful eyes-

" Yos, father. They must go; and we will not hinder thoni ; but they will soon be buck, will not they? "

"That depends on how' S0011 'YD can make good soldiers of them," said lie, cheerfully. " Come, Moyse, have you. changed your mind nguin? Or will you stay aud plait hammocks, while my boys are trained to arms ? "

" I shall not, slay behind, if tho others go. But W')IY should not we all go toget,her P I am sure there is 1"001n (,Huugh ill yonder valley for all the people on this coast."

"ROOlll enough, but l11y fnmily are better beside your fat her than among soldiers and the hunters of the mouutains. Stay with them, or go with me. Shoot ducks, and pick up shell-fish here; or go with 1110, :1]1(1 prepal'o to he General l\Ioyse 80111e dav ."

i\loysc looked as if he would have knocked his uncle UO'Yll ut the supposition that ho would stay to pick up shell-fish. H« «ould not but laugh, however. at hearing himself greeted fts General I\Ioysc by all the boys; aud CYCll Genifreue smiled.

~r fll'got moved, sighill,g. t.owarrl« the rocks, to put UI) for her lioys such comforts as sl«: could muster, unrl to prtlparc the meal

which they 11111St have before they "rent. Her girls went with her; and Dellis shouted nftrr tlu-m, tha t he was to get the eahhagc f'roin tIle VU1JJIPt to. :t(ldiII g. t,hat if t hC'y goa \"l~ Iri m a g'(j(Hl knife, he wonlrl take it, off as ]WH t Iy 8S the Paris 1_)Col>le took ofr the king. His futher gTHsped his urm, and saitl-

" NnYel' un rue t he kiIlg'~ In)" buy~ till you feel gl'ie\T(~ll tha_+' ~'UU hale lost hiru. Y 011 do not kuow what you f-'Hy. RelllCnlhel'never mention the king unless we ask you."

Dellis was glad to l'llll after his cabbage. His father remernbered to praise it at dinner". No one else praised or Iikerl anything. llargot and Aimee were tearful; GCllifl'cde was gloolny. The lads could think of llothillg but the new' lifo before them, which yet they did not like to question their father about, till they should Iiave left tho tears behind. No sooner were they Imst the first turn IIp the ridge, than they poured out their inquivies as to life in the e::nnp, and the prospects of the 'W:1r. 'I'heir engel' gestures were watched by those they left

THE i\.7A~'1fE OF GOD.

57

behind j and there was a feeling' of montiflcntion in each woman's heart" on seeing- this evidence that horne was already forgotten for busier scenes. They persuaded themselves, aud bclicverl of each other, that their grief was for the fearful death of the king; and they spoke as if this had been really tho casco

~. ,V c have no one to look up to, now," said JHnl'got~ sobbing j

" no OIlO to protect us. \Vho would have thought, when I mar. ried, how desolate we should be one day on the sca-shcrc-cwith our master at Ha ltimorc, and the king dead, and no king likely to come after him ! What will become of 11S ?"

"But l\lurgot," interposed Dessalinos, "how should lYO 1)0 better off at this moment, if the king were alive and flourislii llg at Paris ? "

" How ? "rcIJCatccl Margot indignantly, "\Vhy .. 110 would have been our protector, to be sure. He would have done :801110 fine thing for nly husband, cunsideri ng what Illy husband has done £01" him. If our heloved killg (OIl his throne) knew of Iny husband's victory fit Plaisance, and of his expedition to Sf .1\1111'(", and of his keeping quiet. all these plantations Ileal' .Marmnludc, and of tho thousands t hat, he had hrought oyer f'rom the rebels. do you think a good master like the Idllg' would have left us to pine here UlllOllg the rocks, while J ean Francais is boast iug all day long, as if he had done everything with his own hand ~ No, our good kiug would never htl\TC let J e .. l11 :F'l'an(;a is' ,vife dress herself in the best jewels the '" hite Iadies left behind, while the "'ife and daughters of his very best officer are Ii yiug here ill n hut, On a rock, with no other clothes to wear than they l)l'oug]lt HY,~~!y £1'0111 .Breda. No, no; as lny husband says, in losing the

ki 1'"

ll~g we are orl) tans,

H I can get you as good clothes as eyer J oau's wife wore, Margot," said Paul, whose soft hrHl't was tuuvhorl hy her g'ri(~f. "I r-au run Illy l)uat :llOllg" to n, ptwc I kuow of, w hor« there arc silks :Hul t l'illkt~t::i to bl\ h:1« I, :l:--i well as In-andy. I will bl'ill~: "fHI

l_. II

and the gil"]~ ~OJllP pretty drPHse:s, l\largoL~'

"Ko, Paul, 110t, here.\Ve ,oallllot wear t lu-m ll('re. And \Y(' shall have no pleasure ill anyt hillg", now 'YO 11a)'(' lost the ouly one who could take care of us. 1\])(1 who knows "'r"11rtl1l~1~ w« shall ever sen our hOY!i ngaill ? "

"' Curse the 'VHr ! " muttered Paul, wiping his brows, "l\Iotllel~t" stli(l Airude in a low voice, 4' litt '''0 ,\~C 11()t God to protect us still? One master may desert 11S. and another lllay die; but there is still God abnve all. ,-V ill not he protect. us P " " Y 0S, UlY dear. God takes cnre of the world , but then He

takes care of OUl~ enemies as ,veIl as of 11S~"

c_ Does he? H exelahued Denis, ill a tone of surprise.

" Yes; ask your father if Father Laxabon does not say so The nuuie of God is for ever ill the mouths of the whites at

58

Cap; but they reviled the king; and, true enough, the king was altogether on our side, we had all his protection."

" All that is a good deal changed Il01V, I hear," said Paul.

"The whites at Cap are following the example of the rebels at · Paris, and do not rely upon God, as on their side, as they used to (10."

""\Vill God leave off taking care of them, then?" asked Denis, "and take care only of ns? "

"No," said Aimee. "God is willing, Isaac says, to take care of al l nien, whether they serve him or not."

Dellis shook his head, as if he did not quite approve this,

" Our priest told Isaac," continued Ahnec, "that God sends his rain on Lhe just and on the unjust. And do not you know" that he does P When the ruins COU10 next mouth, will they not fall 011 all the plantations of tho plain, as well as in the valley where the camp is POur wnterfulls will be all the freshet- and In'igllter for tho ruins, and so will the springs in Cap."

"But if he is everybody's master, aud takes care of everyhody," said Denis, '" what is all this fightillg about? 'Ve are not fighting for Him, are we P "

" Your father is," said ~Ifl.rgot; "for God is always on the side of kings. Father Laxabon snys so."

The boy looked puzzled, till Aimee said-

"I think there would be none of this fighting if overybody tried to please God and serve Him, as is due to a master as father did for the king. God does not wish that men should fight,. So our priest at Breda told Isaac."

Ii, Unless wicked rebels force them to it, as your futher is Ioreed," said ~Iargot

" I suppose so," said Aimee, "hy Isaac's choosiug' to go.'_'

. ---- ....

THE HOUR.

THE lads found some of the details of military training less heroic and less agreeable than they had imagined scarcely to be compared, indeed, under either aspect, to the chase of the wild goats, and search for Y01Ulg turtle, to which they had been of lute nccustomcd. They had their pleasures, however, amidst tho heats, toils, and laborious offices of the canlp. They felt themselves men, living among men: they were young enough to throw cif, and almost to forget, the habits of thought which belong to slavery; and they became conscious of a spirit gro\ving up within

TOUSSAI-,VT'._,,' PI-JILOSOPHY.

59

them, by which they could look before and af'ter, perceive that the future of their lives was in their own hauds, and therefore understand the importance of the present, t ime. Their f'athcilooked upon then1 with mixed feelings of tender pride In them, and regret £01' his own lost youth. 'I'he strong and busy years on which they were entering had been all spent by him in acquiring ono habit of mind, to which his temperameut ana his training alike conduced a habit of endurance. It was at thi s tiuio that he had acquired the power of reading enongh to seck f01" books; and tho books that, he had got hold of were EpictctllS, and some fragments of Feneloll. ",,,-'-ith all the force of youth, he had been by turns the stoic and the quietist; and, whi le busied in submitting himself to the l)rcssnro of the present, he had turned £1'0111 the past, and scarcely dreamed of the future. If his imagination glanced back to tho court of his royal grandfather, l}(~ld under tho palm sharlcs, or l)ursuing tho Iiou.hunf amidst the jungles of Africa, he had hastily wi thdrnwn his mind's ere from scenes whiclt Blight create impatience of Ids lot; and if he eyer wondered whether a long succession of igllorant and sensual blacks were to be driven into the field by tho whip every day in St. Domingo, for evermore, he hull cut short tho speculation as inconsistent with his stoical haliit of endurance; and his Christian principle of trust. It was not, till his youth was past t hat he had learned anything of tho revolutions of the world - too late to bring them into his speeulations antl his hopes. He had read, fr0111 year to year, of the conquests of Alexander and of Ceesar , he had studied the wars of France, and drawn the plans of campaigns in the sand before his door till he knew them by heart ; but it had not occurred to him, that while empires were overthrown in Asin, and Europe was trnversed by powers which gave and took its tci-ritorics, HS he saw the negroes burter their cocoa-nuts aud vlHlltaills 011 Saturday nights while sue], things had happened ill another hemisphere, it had not occurred to lilu tlIat clulllge would oyer happen ill St. Domingo. He had heard of earthquakes taking place at illiGrvuls of hundreds of years, and he kne w that the times of tho hurricane "\'1"61·0 not calculable; but, patient and still as was his 0\\,,11 existence, he had never thought whether there might not be a convulsion of human affections, a whirlwind of lmman passion, preparing' under the grhn order of society in the colony. If a master died, his hoir succeeded him , if the "force" of any plantation was by any conjuncture of circumstances dispersed or removed, another negro company W~lS on the shore, I"CHdy to re-people the slave quarter. The mutabilities of human life had seemed to him to be appointed to whites - to be their privilege and their discipline; while lie doubted not t.hat the eternal COII1IllUI1(1 to blacks 'vas to bear aud forbear. When he now looked UPOll his boys, and

60

remembered that for them this order was broken np, and in time for then} to grnsp a future, and prepare for it- that theirs was the lot of whites, in being involved ill social changes, he regarded them with a far deeper solicitude and tenderness than ill the darkest. lnilluight hours of their childish illnesses, or during t110 sweetest prattle of their Sabbath afternoons, and with a far stronger hopefulness than can ever enter the heart or home of a slave. They had not his habitual patience; and he saw that they were Iittle likely to attain it; but they daily manifested qualities ana powers enterprise, forecast, and aspiration of various kinds, adorning their youth with a promise which made their father sigh at the retrospect of his OV01. He was amused, at the same time, to sec ill them symptoms of a boyish vanity, to which he had either not been prone, or which he had early extinguished. He detected in each the secret eagerness with which they looked forward to displaying their militury accomplishments to those with ,,'"110111 they "ere always C'xehunging thoughts over the ridge. He foresaw that· when they should have improved a litt.le in certain exercises, he should be rccci viug hints a bout a visit to the shore, and that there would then be such a display upon the sands as should excite prodigious admiration, and make Denis break his heart that he must not go to the C3l11p.

l\Ienntirne, he amused them ill the evenings, with as llHUlY of his officers as chose to look 011, by giving them the histoi-y of th» wars of Asia and Europe, as he had learned it from hooks, and thoroughly maste rod it by retlect ion. Night after night was the Innp of Greece traced 'lith his sword's point 011 the sand behind his tout, while he related the succession of the conflicts with Persia, with :t spirit dr-rived £1'0111 old Herodotus himself. Night after njg'ht did tho iuterosf of his hearers arouse 1110re and 1110i"O F-pi.l"it in himself, fill he hee:tlno awuro that his sy mpnthics "FUll the Greeks in their f:itrug'gles £01' lihf'rty had hitherto been like t hose of tho poet horn hlind, wlio (lelights ill dpserihillg natural SeellPl"Y thus unconsciously enjoyilJg" tho st-ir wit-hill him of powers whose appropriate exercise is forbidden. Amidst this survey of i he l'pg'ions of history, he felt, with humble wonder, that while his boys were like brig in.-eyed children sporting fearlessly iu the fields, he was like one lately couched, by whom the order of things was gradually becoming recognised, but who was oppressed by the unwonted light., and inwardly ashamed of tho hesitation and uncertainty of his tread, While SOIlS, nephew, ana n throng of his officers, were listening to him HS to au oracle, and following the tracings of his sword, as he showed how this ad vance and t.lltlt retrea t had been 111tlUe above two t·l10l1S:l11(1 years ago, he was full of consciousness that the spirit of the history of freedom was recei red more truly by the youngest of his audience than by himsclf-> that he was leal'llil1g f1'0111 their

61

natural ardour something of higher value than all that he lind to impnrt.

As he was thus {~ngagcd, late one spring- erening-lute,

because the rains would soon come on, nud suspend all out-floor meetings he was stopped i 11 the midst of explaining a diagrn 111 hy an authoritnt ive tap OIl f ho shou lrlr-r. Ronsod by an appeal 10 his attention ]l(HV sn unusual, he t n1'II(,(l (-1111l'kly, and saw a 1) 1 (l(~ k, wl io be (i koi letl ] 1 i I) 1 :l "":1 v ..

. ~

" \,,-rhy cannot yon spouk P (_)l' (10 yon take nu: for Slltll(" On8

else? Speak your Imsiuoss."

"I cannot;' said t}IC man, iu n \Toiep which, t1J()ug'h ton Jon"

l

to he heard by nuyouc else, Toussaint know to he I>npn liPl"":":;,

" I cannot speak here-l must not, make my-r-lf known. CnlllU

t 1 ... "

) 1 S wa v ~

.,

Great, 'YHS tho Slll'lH'isp of the gTOllp at s(_'i~illg T'oussn inf

instantly follow this black, who nppcarcd ill tho dusk in he 111 ea nlv (i 1 ot 11 erl. TIl t \ v en t ('l·c~(1 t 11 (l i l~] 1 t ~ a nd I (~tl (1 ~J wn t 11l~ {1111t_

.. .! '

tuin at t ]1(~ cutrnnce. Some su w that ;1 ""0111:111 stood w i thin the

Iolds of the tent.

" Clos« the tent," said Pnpalier, in the s.uue tone ill which lip luul been wont to 01"(1(>1' his pln.te to he ehftllg'f'd at ]1(1)1(\. ,. Anr! now, giro lUC SO]}1(~ ,rate}' to ,y~)sh off t.his hOl'rid dtlUhillP-,

Some water quick 1 Pall! I hnve felt ns if I were really H negro nll t hi« day.'

'I'oussaiut said nothiujr : 1101' (lid he snn11110n any one. He

8~nl it 'YHS n rase of danger, led the way into the inner pnrt or the tent, poured out wator. pointed to it, ana rr-tn rued to the tuhle, where he sat down, tn await further explauntion.

Pnpalier at ]pll~th renpponred, looking like himself, even ns to his clothes, whir-l: rrherL'se l1111St, hnve ln-oujrht ill the bundle w hich she (Onrried. Slit' now f.>lood leuulng' n~raill::;t ouo of t IH~ tent-poles, looking grlln'onsly nItt'!'etl worn [111rl w(·nrif'd.

-, :{ Till t · t 1 rn J ;..... ~ " · I ~ 1 .. t · t II

II • t 1 J T ~) 11 11 () ,: ~~ 1 . ( ()' '''11 , J.. J <. L 11 { ~.~ (~. . S (1 ] ( _ ~ } 11 ~~ .~ t 11 J Jill) (1] 11 1 1 j_ g

to a chnir near his own, Pll})aliP]" lin yillg' sf':ltetl hin1~('lf on the other side of the t:1111(l ...

'.rllercse t hrew herself on n couch at 80111(' di~tnllee, H1Hl ]Iid her fare .

.• I must O\\·C Iny :o;n£l'ty to you again, 'I'onssaint ," said PapaIier. ,. I uuderstaud Gcuernl Herrnoua is here at present,"

" He is."

c , You have influence with 11i]11~ and vou must use it. for 111(\.,"

. II"

.. I am sorry you need it. · I hoped you would have taken

nd vantage of the reception he gave you to learn the best Lime find manner of going to Europe. I hoped yon. had been Ht Faris loug ago."

.. I onght. to have been f hcro. If I lind properly vulued ]llY life. I should have bceu there. But it. seemed so inconceivable

;

62

TlfE I-lOUR AiVD rrrn Jl·JAN.

that, things should have reached a worse pass than when 1. crossed t11C fronticr ! It SCC.1IICtl so incredible t hat I should 'llot be able to preserve any wreck of my property for Illy children, that I have lingered on, staying mouth after 111ontJI, t.ill now I cauuot get away. I have had tt dreadful Iife of it. I had 1)ettcl" }H1YC been anywhere clRe. Why, eyen Therese," he eontinucd, l)ointing over his shoulder towards the couch, "Therese, who would not be left behind at Fort Egnlite, the night we came from Hreda=-even Therese has not been using Inc as she should (10. I believe 8]10 hates me.'

" You arc in trouble, and therefor» I ,,"illllot speak w·it 11 you to-Iught about Therese," said 'I'oussaint. H You arc in dangel"; from the determination of tho Spaninrds to deliver up tho eucmies of the late king to --"

"Rather say to deliver up the musters to their rovoltr«] slaves. They mako polities t he prctcnce : hut t.hey would not be sorry to see us all cut to pieces, like poor Odcluc and Clement, and fifty more."

" H(HVCYCr that 111UY be, yonI' immediate <Junger is £1'0111 the Sl)ulli~n'cls-is it ? "

" Yes, I discovered t ha t I was to be sent O'''Cl'' tho line to- 1no1'1'O""; so I ,,[IS obliged to get here to-day ill any 'YflY I could ; and there ""US 110 other ,yay than pah I it was horrid ! "

,; No other way t han hy looking like a negro," said Tons ..

saint, cahnly. " Well, now you are here, what do you 111CtUl to (10 next ? "

'" I 111 e[111 , by yonI' iufluouce w ith General Hermoua. to ohtUl11 protection to a l)ori, that I may l)l'occed to Europe. 1 do not care whether 1 go from St, Doiuiuao, or h.\- St. Iago, 80 as t I) sail from Port Plate. I could find a vessel frum cit-her port.

Yon would have no (litlleuHy in persuading' ('}cJlPl"nl Herm.ma tot 11is ? ~,

•• I hope not. as he voluntarily g-~lVC yon pel'lltiss1011 to enter 1 his territory. I wil] fisk for his safe-cnndnct ill t Ito mornintr. 'In-night you are safe, if you remain here. I request that yon will take possession of tl10 inner apartment, and rely upon mv

~ w

protection."

" 'I'hank vou,

I:> 14' • ~

t1l)U ier, 1~lSl11g.

nud t 11011 I shall

I knew Illy best ,vay was to come here," said "Therese "ill bring 1110 801110 rofreshment : be glad of rest, for we travelled half last

II 1. t "

Il]g~ 11 •

.. For how many [;hall tho safe-conduct he P " asked Toussaint, who 111l(1 also r-isen, ,.; F()11l ,"Ol11'bCl£ alone, 01" more ;; "

..

" No ono know's better t lmn ron," said Pnpalier, hastily,

"that I JWTO only one servant left," pointing again to the couch, "And," lo,vcl'ing' his voice, so that Therese could not hear, "she,

LIBE'RTY DECREED TIlE NEGROES. 63

poor thing, is dreadfully altered, you sec has never got oyer the loss of her child, that night." Then, raising his voice again, he pursued: ")Iy daughters at Paris will bo glad to see 'I'herese, I know ; and she 'will Iike Paris, as everybody does. All lily other people are irrecoverable, I fear; but 'I'hcrese gOC;3 with me."

" No," said Therese, from the couch, "I will go nowhere

with yon."

" Hey-clay! what is that P" said Papnlier, turning in the direction of the voice. " Yes, you will go, Illy dear. You arc tired to-night, as you wel l may be. Yon feel as I do us if you could not go anywhere, t.O-1110rr<HV or the next day. But we shall be rested and ready enough, when the time comes."

" I nm ready at this 1110111ellt to go HllY'V here else anywhere

away from yon," replied Therese.

"What do you 111ea11, Therese ? ~, asked her master, sharply. " I mean what yon said just now that I lutto you."

" Oh l silenco l ' exc Iairncd 'I'oussaiut. He t hen added in a mild tone to Therese, "This is my house, in which God is wor. shipped aud Christ adored, and w here therefore no words of hatred may be spoken." He then addressed hhnself to Papalier, saying, "You have then fully resolved that it is less dangerous to conunit yourself to tho Spaniards than to attempt to reach Cnp? "

" To reach Cap! What I after the decree? Upon ]11Y soul,

Toussaint, I never doubted you yet; but. if "

He looked 'I'oussaint full in tIle fuce.

" I betray no one," said Toussaint. "Whnt decree do you svrak of? "

. "That of the Couvcution of the -lth of Fehrnal"Y last.'

..

• , I have not ]1 card of i t. ~,

., Tl11)l1 it is as I 110pecI -that deerrc i.~ not considered 111~rp ns of flUY import.mce. I trusted it would ho so. It is merely n decree of the Convention, confirming and proclahllillg' the liberty of the negroes, and declaring the colony henceforth ~ll integrall"t part of France, It is a piece of folly and nonsense, as you "Till sec at, once; for it can never be enforced. Noone of any sense wi ll regard it; but just at present it has the effect, yon see, of making it out of the question for Inc to cross tho frontier."

,'fl'tuc," said Toussaint, in a voice which made Papalier look in his face, which was working with some strong emotiou. lie turned away £r0111 the light, and desired Therese to follow him. He would connnit her to the charge of one of the suttlers' wives

for the night. ·

Having put on the table such fruit, bread, aud wine us rciuained from his own meal (Papg,lier forbidding further preparn t ion, for fear of exeitillg observation without), 'I'onssaint

THE HOUR AA'D THE ~:1IA.l\·~ ..

went ont wit]; Therese, committed her to safe hands, and Hlen entered the tent next his own, inhabited by his' sons, and gave t hem his accustomed blessing. On his return, he found that Papalier had retired.

Toussaint was glad to be alone. Never had he more needed solitude : for rarely. if ever, in the course of his life, hnd his calm soul been so disturbed. During the last words spoken by .Papal ier, a conviction had flashed across him, more vivid and more tremendous than any lightning which the skies of December l1tHI sent forth to startle the bodily eye : and amidst the storm w ]1 i (~]1 t hose words hn: 1 roused w i tl I i 11 ] 1 i 1) 1, t I1a t con vi ct i on C ()11- tinned t.o glare fort.h at inter\,"~llg, refusing to be quenched. It was this ;- t hat if it were iudced true t ha t the revolutionary go,~erJllnent, of France hnd decreed to the negroes the freedom and rights of eitiz(\uship, to fight ngaiust tho revolutiouury g-OyernU1Cld would he hencef'ort It to figh t. [I g-aillst.. tho freedom nnd rights of his race. 'rile conscqucuvcs of such a couv iction

were overpowering to his ituaginutjon. As one inference after another presented it.self before hirn as n long array of humiliations and perplexities showed themselves in the future he felt as if his heart were bursting. For hour after hour of that night he paced the floor of his tent; and if ho rested his Iiruhs, - so unused to tremble wit]: fear 0\' t.oil, it was whil» covering his face with his hands, us if CYCIl the lig-ht of the lamp disturbed the intensity of his meditation. A few hours l11ay, at certain crises of the 11111nan mind null lot" do the work of years; and this Bight carried on the educatiou of the noble sou], long repressed by slavery, to a l)oiut of insight which mull itudes do Hot rcac 1t in n lifeti inn . No <1 on bt, t he prppnrn tion had heeu lila king' through years of f'orhen.ruuce a ud meditat iou, aut] through the lat tel' mont hs of {lId (il'lH'ise aurl nr-tivity ; but yet, thp c-hnllge of views ant] PUJ1}()SPS was so great as to malce him £et·]. between Hight and moruinsr, us if he wen- anor 1w1" mnu,

The la-nIl) hurned out, and thlll'e ,yas 110 lig-ht hut fron: the luilliant Rie,,;;, a few of which hall fouud their way into the tcut. 'I'oussaint mado his repeater stri kc : it was three o'clock. .As his min-I gre,v cahn uurlcr the settlement of his purposes, he became aware of the thirst which his agitation had excited. I~y the JiglIt of the flitting tapers, he poured out water, ref'reshed himself with a. deep draught, find then addressed himself to his duty. He could rarely endure delay in acting' on his convictions. The present was a case in which delay was treachery; and he would not lose an honr. He would call up Father Laxabon, aurl open his mind to him, that he 1111ght be ready for action when th« enll1l) should awake.

As he Cl1"C"" aside the eurtain of the tent, the air felt fresh to his heated brow, and, with the calm sta.rlight, seemed to breathe

65

strength and quietness into his soul. He stood for a moment Iisteuiuz to the dash and gurgle of the river, as it ran past tho camp the voice of waters, so loud to the listening ear, but so little heeded amidst the hum of the busy hours of day. It now' rose above the chirpings and buzzings or reptiles and insects. and carried music to the ear and spirit of him who had so often listened at Breda to the fall of water in the night hours, with a mind unburdened and unperplexcd with duties and with carr«. The sentinel stopped before the tent with a start which made l[i-j arms ring at seeing the entrance open.and some one standing there.

" Watch that no one enters ? " said Toussaint to him, ~; Slj!~(l

for me to Father Laxabou's, if I am wanted."

As he entered the tent of the priest a tent so S111a.ll as to contain only one apartmerrt · all seemed <lark. Laxahou slept sn soundly as not to awake till Toussaint had found the t.inder- hox, and "was striking tt light.

" In tho IH1IlIO of Christ, "who is there ? " cried Laxabou. "I, Toussaint Broda ; entreating your pardon, father."

" 'Vhy are you here, my son? There is some misfortune, hy vonr face. You look weari e(l anrl anxious. 'V1Jat is it} ? It,

at

" No misfortuue, father, and 110 r-r imc. But Illy mind i ~

anxious, and I have ventured to brenk your rest, Yon '''1 II pardon me '? "

" You do right" nly SOIl. We are really for service. in seasun and out of season."

vYhile Hnyillg this, the priest had risen, and thrown 011 his morning-gowu. He now seated himself at the table, sayiug->

" Let lIS hear. 'Vlla.t is this affair of lla,st~e?"

H The cause of nly haste is this that I may probahly not, ngaill have conversation with YOll, father; and I desire to COHfoss, and be absolved by you once more."

., Good. Some danjrcrous cxpcdition > is it Hot, so ? ..

"No. Tlw affair is personal altogether. Have you helll·ll uf any decree of tho French Convention by which the JlCg'l'()()~ - the slaves of the colony of St Domingo are freely acecptl'd as fellow-citizens, and the colony declared nn integrant pnrt of Frauce ? "

•• Snrely I have. ThQ General was speaking' of it last uight ; and I brought away a copy of the proclamation consequent upon it, Let UlO see," said he, rising, and taking up the Iauip, " where did I IHIt that proclanlatioll?"

"""Vith your sacred books," perhaps, fntht'l"; for it is It gospel to me and rnv race.'

...

" Do yolt tJlink it of so mnch hnportlluee ? " R,ljked Laxahon,

returning to the table with the newspappr containing the proclamation, officially gh~el1. "The General does not seem to think much of it, nor does .Ieau Francais.'

E

66

t

TIlE l£OUR A,-VD THE MA~V.

'" To a commnuder of our allies the affair may appear a triflo, father; and such white planters as cannot refuse to hear the tidings may scoff at them , but Jean Francais, a negro and a slave is it possible that he makes light of this P "

"He does; but he has read it, and you have not. Read it, 11JY son, and without prejudice." .

Toussaint read it again and again.

" Well!" said the priest, as Toussaint put down the pnper, no longer attempting to hide with it the streaming tears which covered his face.

"Father," said be, commanding his voice completely, "is there not hope, that if men, weakened and blinded by degradation, mistake their duty when the time for duty comes, they will be forgiven?"

" In what case, my son? Explain yonrself.'

,. If I, hitherto a sla ve, and wanting, therefore, f,he wisdom of a free mall, find myself engaged on the "wrong side -fighting against the provi deuce of God- is there not hope that I may be forgiven on turning to the right P "

'" How the 'wrong side, Illy son P Arc yon not fighting for your king, and for the allies of Franco P "

i c I have been so pledged HHd so engaged; and I do not EUY

that I was wrong when I so euguged and so pledged myself.

But if I had been wise as a free man should he, I should have foreseeu of late what has now happened, and not have been found, when last night's sun went down (and as to-morrow night's sun shall not find me), holding a command against tho highest interests of my race- now, at length, about to he l!tc(leelllcd. "

H You 'I'oussaiut Breda the loyal! If Heaven has put any of its grace within you~ it has Sh01'~1l itself in your loyalty; and do yon speak of deserting t.hc forr-es raised ill the name of yonr ki11g, and acting upon tho decl'ees of Jlis enemies? Explain to InC'. Illy ~Ol1, how this can bo. It SC'CIllS to nie thn t I can scurccly he yet. awake.'

"' And to me, it seems, father, that never t.ill now have I heou awake, Yet it wns in no vain dream that I served Illy king. If he is n01V where he can read the hearts of his servants, 110 knows that it was not for my command, or for ally other dignity and reward, that I Ca1110 hither, and have fought under tho royal Hug of France. It ,vas from reverence and duty to him, under God. He is now in heaven; ,YC have lIO kiug , and uiy loyalty is due elsewhere. I know Hot how it might have been if he h<1(1 still lived ; for it seems to me llO\V that God has established a 11igher royalty among men than even that of an anointed sovereign over the fortunes of many nrillions of men. I think l101V that the rule which the free man has over his own soul, over

PERIJLEXITY.

time and eternity subject only to God's will -is a nobler authority than that of kings; but, however I might have thought" our king 110 longer lives; and, by God's luercy, as it seems to me now, while the hearts of the blacks feel orphaned and desolate, an object is held forth to us for the adoration of our loyalty an object higher than throne and crown, and offered us by the hand of the King of kings."

" Do you mean freedom, iny son? Remember t,hat it is ill the name of freedom that tho French rebels have committed the crimes which which it would consume the night to tell of, and which 110 one knows better, or abhors morc, than yourself."

" It is true; but they struggled for this and that" and tho other right and privilege existing in societies of those who are fully admitted to be men, In the struggle, crime has been victorious, and they have killed their king. The object of Illy devotion will now be nothing that has to be wrenched from an anointed ruler, nothing which can be gained by violence nothing but that which, beiIlg already granted, requires only to be cherished, and may best be cherished in peace-the manhood of ]11Y race. To this must I honceforth be loyal.'

" How can men be less slaves than the negroes of St. Do .. mingo of lute ? No real change has taken place; and yet you, who wept thnf freedom as rebellion, are now proposing to add your force to it."

" And was it not rebellion? S01118 rose for the plunder of their masters some from ambition -SOUle from revenge-many to escape from a condition they had not patience to endure. All this was corrupt; and the corruption, though bred out of slavery, as the fever from the marshes, grieved Illy soul as if I had not known the' cause. But. now, knowing' the cause, and others (knowing it also) hayillg decreed that. slavery is n t an end, and giYcn the sau-t iou of law ,1IHI national svm puthy to OUl' freedom is not tho ca.c tltulged;; Is it U01\T n folly 01' a sin to d(~sirc to l'{_lulisc anr] IHIl'ify II ud clcra te tlris frcedolll, t 11a t tho.sn who wore first! slaves and tllcn sflsnges ]nflY at, lellgth become men-s-not in decrees and proclamations only. but ill their OW"11 s:-)uls ? Yon do not answer, lather. Is it not so? "

"Open yourself further, Illy son, Declare what you propose.

I fear yon arc perplexing yourself."

" If I am deceived, father, I look for ligl1t, £1"0111 heaven through yon. ~,

"I fear -1 fear, lily son! I do not find ill you to-night the tone of humility and reliance upon religion in which you found comfort the first time you opened the conflicts of your heart to me. You remember that night, 111V son P "

" The first night of my fi'ecdolli P N ever shall I forget its agonies."

E2

68

Tl-JE flOUR Ai'VD TilE sr.t ».

" I rejoice to hear it. Those agonies 'YCl'O safer, more accept. able to God, t han the comforts of self- will.'

" ltly father, if my will ensnares 111e, lay open the snare I say not f01" the sake of my soul only but for far, far more for the sake of nly children, for the sake of Illy race, for the sake or t he ~lory of God ill His dealings with men, bring rue baek if I stray."

'. Wel]. Explain explain what you propose."

,. I cannot remain in au arulY opposed to what arc now the

legal rights of the blacks."

'" You ,yill give up your command ? " " I 8]1 all.'

" Aud yonI' boys what "'"ill yon do with them ? "

" SellLl tlleUl whence they eame for the present. I shall dismiss them by one road, while the resignation of Illy rank goes by another."

" A nd yon yourself by a third."

" 'Vhen I have declared 111),8('1£ to General Hoi-mona.'

" I-Iave you thoughts of taking your soldiers with you? ,.

" No."

" But what is right for yon is right for t horn.'

"If they so decide £01" +hcmscl vcs. 1tiy l)o'wor ovcr thr-m is gl"0at. They would follow me with a word, I shnll tlH~rpfol'e Hyoid spcakillg that wort], as it would be a false first step ill a career of freedom, to make them C'llte1* upon it as slaves to my opinion and JUy will.'

.. But you will at least, address them, that. thr-y lliay understaud tho course yon pursue. Tho f'csti vu] of tllis morning will afford fill opportunify-c-nf'ter mass. Hnve you thnnght of this? - I do not say that I am [tclYising it. or sanctioning any part of your plan, but have you thonjrht of this? "

"I have, and dismissed tho thought. The proclamafiou will speak for itself, I act 1r0111 110 iuformation which is not open to them all, They can net, thank Go £1 , for themsclves , and I will not seduce them into subservience, or haste, or passion."

" But you will be givillg' up everything. '\That can mako you thiuk that the French at Cap, ull ill the interest of the planters, wil.l receive vou ? "

" I do llO't think it; and I shall not offer myself."

" Then you wil] sink into nothing. You will no longer he an officer, nor even a soldier. Yon will he a more negro, where negroes are wholly despised, After all that you have been, you will be nothing."

c I S113·U he a t'I~110 man .. ~,

" You will sink to less than nothing. Yon will be worse than useless before God and man. You "ill 1)0 11el(1 a traitor.'

Af,A~V'S C.AREER.

69

" I shall; but it will be for the sake of a higher fidelity."

There was a long pause, after which Laxabon said, ill a tone half severe, and half doubt.iug-

" So, here ends your eareer ! You w ill dig a piece of ground to grow maize and plnutuins for yonI' Inmily ; you will read history in yunr piazza, aud see YOUl' daughtors dauce ill tl~~ shade, "T] 1 i Ie vour uame "Till never I)t~ 111(tllti()11(~(_1 but as thn t. of

....

n traitor. So here ends your eareer ! "

'. From no one so of'teu a:-; vuu, father, ]1;\\"'(' I h{,~ll't1 that maus

•

C'll'eel- ne ,TCl- en (1:-5..·~'

The priest made uo reply.

,( How lately was it," pursued 'I'oussaiut, '" thu.t. you encouraged Illy children, "hen they, 'VIlO fear neither the wild hull HOI' the tornado, looked somewhat foarfnllv up to tho eclipse-d IIlOOIl? Who was it but yon who told them, that though that blessed light seemed blotted out £1'0111 the sky, it was not so ; but that behind the hlack shadow, God's hand WHS still leading her on, through tho heaven, still pouring radiauce into her Iamp, not the less bright because it was hidden from mon P A thick shadow is about to pass upon my name : bnt is it not possible, father, that God may still he feeding 11lY soul with light still guiding" me townrds Hirnself P \Vill you not once more tell me, tha tl mau's career never curls ? "

,. In a certain sense in a certain sense, t.hut is true, my son.

But. our career here is what God has put into our own hands: and it seems to me that you are throwing away His gift find His favour. How will you answer when He asks you, 'What hast thou done with the rank and the power I put into thy hand? How hast thou used them P' "That, can you then answer, but

....

, I flung them away, and made myself useless and a reproach.'

Yon know what a station you hold in this c.:unp how you are prized by the General for tho excellence of the militnry discil)liuo you have iutrorluced ; find by Inc, and all tho wise and If'1igions, for t.he sobriety of maunere and purity of morals of which yon are an example in yourself, and which you have cherished :ullong your troops, so that your soldiers are the boast of the w-hole allinuer-. Yon know this- that yon unite the influence of the priest with t.he power of t,he commauder : Rnd yet you are goillg to east off both, wit.h all tho duties which belong to theiu.nurl sink yourself in inftuny and with yourself, the virtues you have advocated. How will yon answer this to God?"

"Father, was there not One ill whose path lay all t.he kingdOlUS of the world flnd the glory of them, and lvho yet chose igllolnillY to be despised by the world, iustead of to lead it F .A .. nd wns God severo with Hiln P ForgiY8 me, father; but have you not desired me to follow Hiiu, though far off as the eastern uioou from the setting suu P "

70

THE HOUR ALVD THE ./~fA1V~

" That was a case, lny son, unique in the world, The Saviour had a lot of His own, Common men hays rulers appointed them whom they are to serve; and, if in rank and honour, so much the greater tho favour of Goel. You entered this service with au npright mind and pure intent; and here, therefore, can you 1110st safely remain, instead of casting yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple, which, you know, the Son of God refused to do. Relnember His words, 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' Be not tempted yourself, by pride of heart, to COInpare your lot with that of Christ, which was unique."

",He devoted Himself for the whole race of man : He, and He alone. But it seems to me that there may 1)0 periods of time when changes are appointed to take place among 111Cn · among nations, and even among races; and that a common man nUIY then be called to devote lrimsolf £01' that nation, or for that rare. Father, I feel that the hour may be come for the negro race to be redeemed ; and that I, a common man, IURY so fur devote myself as not to stand in the way of their redemption. I feel that, I must step out from among those who have never admitted the negroes' claims to manhood. If God should open to HIe fi way to serve the hlacks better, I shall be found ready. l\Icautilne, not for another day will I stand in the light of their liberties. Father.' he continued, with an eagerness which gl'('W- :IS ]10 spoke, "you know somethirur of the souls of aluves. Y ou know" how they are smothered in the lusts of the body, how they are debased by the fear of man, how hlind they are to the providence of God ! You know how' oppression has put out the eyes of their souls, aud withered its sinews, If now, at-length, a Saviour has once 1110re £01' the-In stretched out His healing hand, ~\1Hl bidden them see, and arise find he strong, shall I resist the work P And you, father, wil] you not aid it? I would not pre ..

sume , but if I lllight, say all "

" Say on, lllY son."

" Having reproved and raised the souls of slaves, would it not henceforth be a noble work for you to guide their souls as men? If you would come among us as a soldier of Christ, who is bound to no side in earthly quarrels if you would come as to those who need you most, the lowest, tho poorest, the most endangered, what a work may lie between this hour and your last! What Inay your last hour be, if, day by day, you have trained our souls in the glorious liberty of the children of God! Tho beginning must be lowly; but the kind heart of the Christian priest is lowly: and you would humble yourself first to teach men thus, - 'you were wrong to steal' , you were wrong to drink' 'you were wrong to take more wives than one, and to strike your children in passion.' Thns humbly must you begin; but aUlong free men, how high may you not rise? Before you die, you 111SY

71

have l£1d tJlel11 to rule their OYVll spirits, and, fronl t.he throne of that sovereignty, to look far into the depths of the heavens, and oyer tho history of tho world; so that they Inay Iive in the light of God's countenance, and praise Hirn almost like the fillgelsfor, you know, He has made us, even US~ but n, litUe 10'"\",£'1" than they.'_'

" This would be a noble work," snitl Laxabon, 11111('h moved : ,i' find if Goel is really about to free yonI' race, He will uppoiut a worthy servant for the office. ~fy duty, howovcr, lies here. I have here souls in charge, without being troubled with doubts as to the intentions of Goel and of men, As I told you, the General docs not think so much as you do of this event; nor even does J can Francais. If you act rashly, you will repent for eyer having quitted the path of loyalty and duty. I warn yon to pause, anti see what course events wi l] take. I admonish you Hot hnstily to desert tho path of Ioyal ty and duty."

" If it had pleased God," said Toussaint, humbly, H to release me fr0111 tho ignorance of sla very w-hen He g-ayc Inc freedom, I lllight now he able to lay open Illy heart as I desire to do; I might declaro tho reasons which persuade JllO so strollgly 8S I feel persuaded. But I am ignorant, and uuskilful in reasoning wi th one like you, father."

" It is therefor that we are appointed to guide and help you, )ny son. You now know Iny mind, and have recoived my adrnonif ion. Let us proceed to confession; for the morning draws on towards the hour for mass.'

" Father, I cannot yiclcl to your admonition. Reprove me as yon will, I cannot. There is a voice within )110 stronger than yours." " I fear so, Illy son; 1101' can I douht what that voice is, nor

whence it comes, I will l)ray for YOll, thnt you ]nuy have

strength to strng-glo with the tempter."

" ~T ot so, father; rnther pray that I I11fiy have strength to obey this new voice of duty, alone as I am, discountenanced as I 811:111 IJc."

" Impossible, my SOl1. I duro not so pray for one self-willed and precipitate; nor, till you bring a humble anel obedient mind, can I receive your confession. 'I'here can be 110 absolution where there is reservation. Consider, Iny dear son! I only desire you to pause."

"Delay is treachery," said Toussaint. "This day the decree and proclamation will be made known through tho forces; and if 1 remain, this night's sun sets on Iny condemnation. I shall not dare to pray, clothed in my rank, this night."

" Go now, Illy SOIl. You see it is dawning. You have lost the present opportunity; and yon HUlst now leave me to Illy duties. When you can return hither to yours, you will be we 1 come.'

THE HOUR A_\TD TlfE sr.t ».

'I'oussaint pait] him his wonted reverence, and left the tent. Arrived in his 01Yll, he threw' himself 011 the couch like n heart -brokeu man,

H No hell)! no guidnnre ! " thought. he. ,. I am desolate and alone. I never thonght to have been left without a guide from God. He lea ves Inc with Illy sins ,upon my soul, unconfessed, nun Lsolved : and, thus burdened and rebuked, I 11111St, enter upon the course w hich I (In.11G not refuse, BlI t this voice wit hin ]llt~ which bids me go whence and what is it? vVheuec is it. but f1'OI11 God? And how CUll I therefore say that I am alone ~ There i~ no luau that I run rely on not even one of Christs anuintcd priests; Lut is there not. He who redeemed l1lP11 ? find w il l He reject me if, ill Illy obedience, I come io Him P I "ill try I will dare, Lam alone : and He will hear nnd help Inc."

'Vithout, priest w i! hout voice, without form of words, he rOll· f'esserl and prayed, and 110 longer felt that he was alone, He arose, clear ill mind and strong in hoar t : wrote and sealed up his resignation of his commission, stepped into the next tent, to rouse the three boys, de-iring t hcm to dress for early nU1SS, and prepare for their return to their h01l1CS immediately afterwards. He then entered his 01Y11 inner npnrtruent., "here Papalier was sleeping so soundly that it. "as probnlJ]e the cu rly movomcuts of sainr's-day festivities in t.he ranip would not awaken him. As he could not show himself abroad tin the General's protection was secured, his host. let, him sleep on; opeuing' and shntting Iris clothes; chest, and going through the w hole preparation for n}Jpenrnnce on the parade in full uniform, without disturbing; his wearied guest, who hardly 1110ycd even at the roll of the drum, and the stir of morniug ill the camp,

PAr ALlER was probably the ouly person in the valley \,,110 did IUJt at tend mass on this sainf.'s-day ll~orllill~. T!18 Spanish gCll(>r~ll was early SCCll~ surrounded by ]11S staff, 11lOYIIlg towards the ribiug' ground, outside the caHlp, on which stood the church, erected £01' the use of the troops when the encnmputeuf was f'ormed. The soldiers, both Spnuish and negro, had SOlllC fime before filed out of their tents, and been formed for their S1101-t niarch; and they now cume up in order, the whites approaching 011 the right, and the blacks on the left, till their forces joined before the church. The sun had not yet shone down into the

73

valley, tl1HI t.he (1t_~\,r lay OIl the grass. and dropped like rain from the broad caves of the church-roof from the points of the palmleaves with which it was thatched,

'I'his church "as little more t.11UIl it (~O'''t~l .. el_l enclosure, It was we 11 shnded from the heat of the S1111 1)1: its 1)1'()~1(1 :111U low r. iof ;

...

hut, between the corner posts, the sides could hardly be said tL1

he filled ill by the bamboos which stood like Blender columns at iuturvnls of seve-ral inches, so thut all thut passed within coul.l I.e ~P{_'ll £1'0111 without, except that. the vcst ry and the part lJehil1l1 1110 al t .. ar had t hei 1- walls illt(~1·\'~()'TP11 wi th wi thes, so U·S to 1.)4. ~ impervious to the eye. The ground was strewn thick with 1l10SS, -ClISlliollcd throughout for the knees of tho worshippers. The ~;I'ats were rude wooden benches, except the chair, covered with damask, which was reserved for the Marquis d'Herniona.

Here the General t.ook his place, his staff ruuging thenisel ves on the Iienches behind. Jean F'rancais entered after him, and seated hiulsel£ on the opposite range of benches. Next followed 'I'oussaint Breda, alone, haying left his sons outside with the soldiers. SOllle few In01'O advanced towards the altar; it being understood that those 'V]10 did so 1~·is}]c(1 to connnunicate. Au interval of a few empty benches was then left, Rn<1 the Iowcr end of the church was thronged hy such of the soldiery as could find 1'00111; t h(\ rest closing jn round the bniJc1i1Jg, so as to hear the voice of t he priest, and j oiu in tho service.

There was a gay nil' about, the assemblage, scarcely subdued hy the place, and the occasion which hrought them to it. Almost c,ery man carried a stern of the white amaryllis, plucked £1'0111 among the high grass, with which it grew thickly intermixed all oyer the valley; and beautiful to t]le eye were the snowy, droop. iug blossoms, contrasted with the rich dark green of their leaves, Some few brought twigs of the orauge and the lime; and the sweet odour of the b108801119 pervaded the place like H holy incense, as tlte first stirring airs of morning breathed arouud and throujrh the building. There were smiles 011 almost every face; and H, hum of low but joyous greetings was heard without, till tlre loud voice of the priest, reciting the Creed, hushed every other. The only countenance of great seriousness present was that, of 'I'oussaiut, and his bore an expression of sol eumi ty, if not of melancholy, whieh struck every 011e who looked upon him and he always 'vas looked upon by every one. His personal qualities had strongly attracted tho atteutiou of the Spnnish general. Jean Francais watched his every movement with the miuglcd t.riumph and jealousy of a superior ill rauk, hut a rh"81 in farnc : and IJY the negro troops he was so beloved, that nothing but the strict discipline which he enforced could have prevented t.heir following him in crowds wherever he went. '-VhenoYcr he smiled, as he passed along. ill conversation, fhily

74

laughed without inquiring why ; and now, this morning, on observing the gravity of his countenance, they glaneed froni one to another, as if to inquire the cause.

The priest, having eommunicated, at length descended from before the altar, to admiuistcr the water to such as desired to receive it. Among these, 'I'onssaiut bent his head lowest - so low, that the first slanting sunbeam that entered beneath the thatch seemed to rest u1)on his head, while every other head remained in the shadow of the roof. In after days. the negroes then present recalled this appearance. Jean Francais, observing that General Hermona was making some remark about Toussaint to the officers about him, endeavoured to assume nn expression of deep devotion also; hut in vain. No one thought of snying of him what the General was at t,hat moment saying of his brother in arms- "God could not visit 11 soul more pure."

When the blessinsr had heen given, and the few' concluding verses of Scripture read, the General ":"[18 the first to leave his place. It seemed as it he find 'I'oussaint moved towards ono another by the same impulse, for they met in the aisle between

the benches, -

" I have a few words of business to speak with you, Gell~ral -a work of justice to ask you to perform without delay," said TOllssalllt'e

,. Good!" said the General. .. In justice there should be no

delay. I wil] therefore breakfast, with you in your tent. Shall we proceed ? "

He put his arm within that of Toussaint, who, however, gel1tly withdrew his, and stepIH!fl back with a Pl"OIOH1Hl bow of respec t. General Hr-rmonn Iooketl as if he Sf"I11'C(·ly knew whether to take this as [1U act of lllunilit.y, or to be offended; hut he smiled on 'I'oussaiuts eayillg" -

__.. .... _

" It is not without reasons t hnt I declino honour in this 1)1<1('0

this Dl01"1l1ng reasrms \yhich I wil] explain. Shall I conduct yon to DIy tent? And these gClltlclncll of your staff P "

" As ,YO ha ve business, Illy friend, I ",'ill como alone. I shall be sorry if there is any quarrel between us, Toussaint. If yon have to ask justice of Inc, I declare to you I know not the

--,

cause.

"It is not for myself, General, that I ask justice. I have ever received from you 1110re than justice."

" You have attached your men to yourself with singular skill," said the General, on their ,,~ay down the 8101)e from the church, as he closely observed the countenances of the black soldiers, which brightened, as if touched by the sunlight, on the approach of their conunander. "Their uttaelnnent to you is singular. I no longer wonder at your nchievemeuts in the field. "

I~VDIFFERE1VT TO PRO~l_/OTION.

75

" It is by no skill of mine," replied 'I'oussaiut ; "it is by the power of past tyranny. The hearts of negroos are made to Iovo. Hitherto, all love in which the mind could share has been bestowed upon those who degraded and despised them. In me they see one whom, while obeying, t.hey may love 8S a brother."

" The same lllight be said of Jean Francais, as inr as yonr reasons go; but Jean Francais is not beloved like you. He looks gayer than yon, 111Y friend, notwithstanding, He is happy in his new rank, probably. Yon have heard that he is ennobled by the court of Spain P "

" I had not heard it. It will please him."

"It evidently does. He is made a riohle ; and his mil itury rank is now that of lieutenant-general. Your turn will come next, Illy friend; and if promotion went strictly according to personal merit, 110 one would havo been advanced SOODer than yon."

" I do not desire promotion, nnd ,~

" All! there your stoical philosophy comes in. But, I will sJIO,\V yon anothor- "TllY of applying' it. Rank brings carcs : so that ouc who is not a stoic may have an excuse for shrinking' from it; but a stoic despises cares. Ha! we have 80111e young"

soldiers here," he said, as Moyse and his cousins stood beside the way, to make their obeisance; ,,; and very perfect soldiers they look, yOUllg as they are. They seem born for military

II , ,

sell'~lce ~

" They were born slaves, my lord; but they have now tlH~ loyal hearts of freemen within them, amidst the ignorance and follies of their youth."

" They are - "

" My nephew and rny two SOIlS, Illy lord." " And why mounted at this hour ? "

"They are going to their homes, by ]11Y direction."

"If it were not tlJat you have business with me, which 1

suppose you desire them not to overhear "

" It is as you say, General."

U If it had not been so, I would have requested that they might be at our table this morning. As it is, I will not delay their journey."

And the General touched his hat to the lads, with a graciousness which made them bend low their uncovered heads, and report marvels at horne of the deportment of the Marquis d'Hermona. Seeing how their father was occupied, they were satisfied with a grasp of his hand as he passed, received from him a letter £01' their mother, and waited only till he and his guest had disa~peared within tho tent, to gallop off. They wondered at being made the bearers of a letter, as they knew that his horse was ordered to be ready beside his tent

TIlE HOUR A.:\·rn THE ~lfA1V.

inllnediatcly nfter hrpukfnst., aud had not a doubt of his arriving at t.JIC shore almost as S0011 as themselves.

Papalier was lounging 011 the couch beside the table "here breakfast was spread, when General Hermona and llis host Pldpred. He started up, casting" a look of doubt. npon 'I'ousS~ \ i 1) t a

,

" Fear llothiug, M, Papalier," said 'I'oussaint ; "Geueral IIf1l'-

11lOlUl. has eugag'C'd to listen to Illy plea £01" justif'C. l\Ty 101'(1, 1\[ IJapalier was amicably received hy yonI' lordship ou cl'ossiug" t 1Ie frontier, and, on tho st rougf.h of YOHr ,Yell'OH10, hns remained 011 t he island till too lui e tu escape, without your especial 1)1'0- teet ion, a· fate he dreads.'

"y on mean being delivered np as a repuhlican ? n

" Into the hands of Illy own negroes, Illy Iorrl," said Pnpalicr, bitterlv, " 'I'hat is the £~lto secretly designed for any unfort uuate planter who Inay yet have snrviverl the recent troubles over the fl'ontiel~ ."

" But how can I protect yon P 'I'he arrangement is none of mine.: I caunot interfere wi t 11 it. ~,

,. Only by fOl'gettiilg' in this single instunce the point of time at; which we have arrived, nnrl furnishing' me with a pass which bhnll enable me to sail for Europe, as I ackuotrlcdgc I ought to have done long ago."

,L SO this is the act of jn~tiee you as1...cd f1'OlTI me, 'I'oussniut '

Why did you not sny favour P I shall do it 'with lunch 11101'e pleasure as a slight £a,~our to one whom I strongly l·cgaru. -1011 shall have your safe-couduet, :ThI. Papalier. In the mean-

time ~,

And he looked towards the steaming cliocolnte and tho piles of fruit on the tnhlc. as if his appetite were gro\ying urgent.

" One word more, my lord, before offering you Illy welcome to my tnl.Io,' said 'I'oussaiut. "I beseech you to consider the granting' this pass as an act of j ustice, or of a1lything rat her t hun fUYOIU' to me, Yesterday, I would have accepted a hundred fHYOUl'S £1'0111 you: to-day, wit.h equal respect, I must refuse oveu one. I pledge myself to tell yon ",'11Y before you rise from table, to which I now invite yon."

.~ I (10 not understand all this, To 11 ssaint." " I hnvc pledged myself to explain."

"And YUH say there is no personal feeling no offence between lIS ~J ."

"If aUYt Illy lord, I alone am tho offender. Will you be

pleased t,o" ·

H 011, yes, I will hrcakfast ; and was never more ready. 1\1.

Papalier, our morning mass has kept you waiting, I fear." .Papalier seated himself, but ,YUS ncar startiug up again when he saw his ncgL'o host preparing to take his place between his

77

two guests. Papalier had never ret sat at tal)h1 \ritll a !leg'!"o, and his impulse was to resent the necessity; hut [l, stern look from the General warned him to submit quietly to tho usages of the new state of society which he had rcmaiued to witncss : and he sat through the meal, joiuiug occasioually in the conversation, which, for his sake, was kept clear of subjects which might aUllOY him.

As soon as the servanf s, after proclncillg pen, iuk, and paper, had withdrawn, tho G·(~11eT'al wrote a safe-conduct. and (leli,~c~l~t"\tl

I •

it to 1\1. Papalior, with an int imatiou that an attendant. should

be ready to guide him lo the nearest port, at hi~ cal'lie:3t conv»nicnco. Papalier understood t.his us it was meant as a. hint that there Blust be no delay. He tleclnred, therefore, his wish to depart, as 50011 as the heat of the day should decline.

" An(1 now', llly 10re1 --- ," snit! 'I'oussaint,

" Yes, now for the explanation of this fancy of not receiving kindness £r0111 your best friends. Let us hear."

" I hRV"O this morning, Illy lord, despatched letters to DOTI

J oachim Garcia., at St. Domingo "

" Yon are in communication with tho Colonial Govornment , and not through me ! What can this mean ? "

" • .:\.11(1 lu-re, Illy lord, arc r-xact copies of Illy letters, which I request tho favour of you to read, and, if I Inay hi? permitted in say so, without hast« 01' prejlulire--thongh, ill this caso, it i:;; much to ask."

Toussaint, disappeared in t.he inner apartmeut; hut not before he saw" a smile on Papalicr's fucc -R smile which told of n mnscment at the idea. of ::t negro sending dispatches of tluy importnnce to the head of tho gOl"crnnlent of t.he Spanish colony,

The Genel'al did riot seem to feel anv of the same amusement,

••

His countenance wns 11ervlrxcd aurl nnxious. Ho certainly

obeyed 'I'oussaints wishes ns to not l)ciug" ill hast c : for he rea-l thu pilpers (which were few' and short.) agniH and ng-aiIl. He had not laid thC1TI down wlieu Toussaint reappp;n'ed frnm wit lrin · no IOllg'Pl' glittering in his uniform and polished arms, hut, dressed i~l his old plantation clothes, and with his woollen cap in his hand. Both his guests first gazed at him, and then started from their seu ts.

'Toussaint ruerely passed through the tent, howiug low' to tho Gpnel'al~ and bitldiug' him farewell. ..A .. confused noise outside, followed bv a S110tlt,~ rOl1SC(1 Herruona from h is astonishment .

.. He is" addressing the troops!" hc' cricrl, (bOa wiusr Iris sword, and rusliinj; forth. .

'I'oussaiut was uot addressing tl10 t.l"OOp~. lIe was JIlCl'I.Jy informing J acques, \Y]IOH1 ho hnd t-equostetl to he in wa iting tlu-rr-, beside his horse, t.hat he 'was no Ioujrer a comrnnuder no longer in the forces; ancl that the recent proclamation, by showing him

THE HOUI? AND THE ~fAN.

that the cause of negro freedom was now one with that of the present government of France, was the reason of his retirement from the Spanish territory. He explained himself thus far, in order that he might not be considered a traitor to the lost cause of royalty in France; but, rather, loyal to that of his colour, from the first day of its becoming a ·cause.

Numbers became aware that something unusual was going forward, and were thronging to the spot, 'when the General rushed forth, sword in hand, shouting aloud-e-

"The traitor! Seize the traitor! Soldiers l seize the

trai tor ! "

Toussaint turned in an instant, and spra.ng upon his horse.

Not a negro would lay hands on him; but they cast upon him, in token of honour, the blossoms of the amaryilis and the orange that they carried. The Spanish soldiers, ho-wever, endeavoured to close round him and hem him in, as the General's voice was still heard-

" Seize him! Briug him ill, dead or ali ve ! "

Toussaint, however, was a perfect horseman ; and his favourite horse served him well in this crisis. It burst through, or bounded over, all opposition, find, amidst a shower of white blossoms which strewed the way, instantly carried him beyond the calup. Well-mounted soldiers, and many of then], were behind, how .. ever; and it was a hurd race between the fugitive and his pur~ suers, as it "as w-itnessed from the camp. Along the river bank, and over the bridge, the danger of Toussaint appeared extreme ; and the negroes, watching the countenance of Jacques, preserved a dead silence when all the horsemen had disappeared in the woods which clothed the steep. Then all eyes were turned towards tho summit of that ridge, 'there the road crossed a space clear of trees; and there, in an incredibly short time, appeared the solitary horseman, who, unencumbered with heavy arms, and lightly clothed, had great Iy tho advantage of the soldiers in mounting t,hc ascent. He wns still followed , hut ho was just disappearing oyer the ridge, "Then the foremost soldier issued from the wood behind IIi111.

" He is safe! he is safe! " was murmured through the throng ; and the words reached t.JIC cars of tJIC General in a tone whic 11 convinced him that the attachment of the black t.roops to Tous. saint Breda was as strong as he himself Lad tllat morning declared it to be.

" N O\V you see, General," said Papalier, turning into the tent, from which he too had come forth in the excitement of the scene " you see what you have to expect from these negroes."

" I see what I have to expect from you," replied the General, with severity. "It is enough to witness how you speak of a man t-o whom you owe your life this very day-- and not for the first time."

79

"Nay, General, I have called him no names not CYCll , traitor.' "

" I have not owed him my life, l\f. Papalicr; ana you are not the commander of these forces. It is Illy duty to prevent the defection of the negro troops; and I therefore used the language of the governluent I serve in proclaiming him a traitor. Had it been in mere speculation between him and myself that those papers had C01ne in question, God knows I should hnve called him something ,""cry diffcren t."

" There is something in the man that infatuates that blinds one's judgment, certainly," said Papalier. " His master, Bayou, spoiled him with let.ting him educate himself to an absurd extent. I always told Bayou so; and there is no saying now what the consequences may be. It is Illy opinion that we hale not heard the last of him yet."

'" Probably," said the General, gathering up his pnpers as his aide entered, and leaving the tent in conversation with him, almost without a farewell notice of Papnlier.

The negro troops were busy to a man, ill learning from J argues, and repeating to one another, the particulars of what was in the proclamation, and the reasons of Toussaint's departure. General Hcrnioua found that the two remainiug black lenders, J call Frnneais and Biasson, were not, infected by Tous-

saint's convictions; that, on the coutrary, they were far f'rom sorry that he was thus gone, leaving them to the full enjoyment of Spanish grace. They addressed their soldiers in favour of loyalty, and in denunciation of treason, and treated the proclamatiou as slightly as DOll J oachim Garcia could possibly have wished, They met with little response, however ; and every oue felt, amidst the show and parade and festivity of the day, a restlessness and uncertainty which he perceived existed nn less in his neisrhhour than ill himself. No oue's mind "~as ill the business or enjoyment of the festival; and uo ono could, he greatly surprised at anything that, mijrht take place, though the 111C11 were sufficiently orderly in tho discharge of their duty to render any Interference with them unwnrrnntahle, and allY precautions against their defection impossible. The great hope lay in the influence of the t\VO leaders who remained, as the great fear was of that of the one who was gone.

The Spanish force was small, constituting only about, 0110- fourth of the 'whole; and of these, tho best mounted had not returned from the pursuit of 'I'oussaint ;-~llot because they could follow him far ill the enemy's country, hut because it required some skill and cuUtiOH to get buck ill broad day, aftor haying

roused expectation all along the road. .

While the leaders were anxiously calculating probabilities, 3.11d reckoning forces, J acqucs was satisfying himself that tho

80

preponderance of numbers was greatly on the side of his absent friend. His ha tred of the whi tes, which had never intermitted, was wrought up to strong passion this day by the treatment the proclamation and bis friend had received. He exulted in the thought of being able to humble the Spaniards by withdrawing the force which enabled them lo· hold their posts, and by making him whom they called a traitor more powerful in thn cause of the blacks than they could henceforth be in that of royalist France. Fired with these thoughts, he was hastilv passing the tent of Toussaint, which he had supposed deserted, when he heard from within, speakiug ill anger and fear, a voice which he well knew, and which had po,ver over him. He hat! strong rCHSOllS for rcmetuberiug tho first time he had seen 'I'herese on the uight of the escape across the frontier. She wus strongly nssoeiated "'iih his feelings townrds the class to which her O","11or bclong(~d; and he knew that. she, beautiful, lonely, and wretched, shared those feelings. If he had not kuow n this from words dropped by her during the events of this morniug, he would have learned it now ; for she was declaring her thoughts to her master, loudly enough for anyone who passed hy to overhear.

Jacques entered the tent, and there stood Tht?rese~ d(l{'la.rill~ tl1(lt she would leave her master. :1111(1 never ~l~O him more, IJ11t prevented from escaping by Papalier having intercepted lu-r passage to the entrance. Her eyes glowed with delight on t he appearance of Jacques, to whom she immediately addressed Iu-rself .

•• I wi ll uot go w it h him I will not go 'with him to Paris. to s(\e his young Indies. He shall not take care of me. I "Till take care of myself. I will drown myself sooner than go wit h him. I do not care what becomes of me, but I will not go."

" Yes, yon will care what becomes of you, 'I'hercse, because your own people care," said .Iacqucs. "I will protect you. If you will be Illy wife, no white shall molest you again."

" Be V0111- wife ! "

,fII

., Yes. I love the blacks; and none so much as those '" luun

the whites have oppressed no one so much as you. If yon will

be my wife, we will - "

Here, remcmberingthepreScllce of a white, Jacques explained to Th<h'cse in the negro language (which she understood, thousrh she always spoke French), the new hopes which had arisen for t he blacks, and his own intention of fullo,yillg Toussaint, to make him a chief. He concluded in gooa French, ·t·nnilillg maliciously at Papalier as he spoko~

.. Yon will come wit.h 111e now to t.he priest" and he Iny wife." " I will," replied Therese, calmly.

"Go," said Papnlier. "You have Iny leave. I am thus

1, \" ". I ., ('j' / ,'" \ "/ ,! ...

t' )) j.t'. ..( /'( .,

~ ~ (_ L _", ~) _ / f j I f ~ ~ ,f ~"l ~) I ~ ..._) •

8r

hononrahly released from the Care of you till tilncs shall ehnng·e.

I am glad that yon will not remain unprotected, at least." L

H Unproteeterl !" exclaimed 'I'hereso, as she i,]u'e\v on t JJC Spanish mantle which she was now accustomed to wear abroarl. " U nprotected l Anel what has your protection been?"

" Very kiud, my dear, I a111 sure, 1 have spent on YOHr education ruoncy which I should be ycry glad of now. When people flatter you, 'Therese (as they will do; for there is Hot a ncgress ill all tho islnnd to compare with you), remember ,,-110 made yon a lady. Yon will promise me that much, 'I'here-e, at parting' ? "

•. Remember who made Inc n lady! I have forgotten too IOllg who marie me n. woman," said Th(h'esc, devoutly upraising lu-r eyes. " In serviug' Him and Ioviug' Illy hnshuud, I wil] strive to forget yon."

., _t\_1I alike! " muttered Papalier, as the pair went out. " This is w·hat one 111ay expect from :uegl'oes, as the General will lctll'n whon ]10 has harl euongh to do 1\~it,h thorn. They n.rc all ulikr-."

'I'his great event ill the life of J ~H~(lUCS Dessaliues did ]1 nt. delay his proceedings for more than ha lf-nu-liour . Noon wus hut just pnst, when he led forth his wife from 1110 presence of tlrc priest, mounted her on his 0"-11 horse before 111S tent, [In<1 sont her forward under t.he escort of his pcrsoual servaut., In'o~ IniRing to overtake 11(11' almost as soon us she shonlrl have cross«l the river. When she was gone, he sent tho worrl through tho negro soldiery, who gathered round him almost to a man, :lilt! with the quiet-ness which 11CCtUl1C their superior force, Jean Francais and Biassou were left wit]; scarcely twenty followers each; and those few would do llothiu,g". The wlritcs felt t hc mselves powerless amidst tho noou-day h£1Hi-s, i111d opposed to threefold numbers . antI tl1cir officers £ounit t Jltlt not Jd1Jg' 1Y(lS to be d0110 but to aJJo1v theHl to look 011 ({uict1y, while J aeques }rlc1

:nrny his little nrn1Y, 'with loud music find fl.. st remning white fLt,~·. A few horsemen led the van, ana closed in tho roar. Th0 rest marched, 1\S if on a holiday trip. now siHglllg to t.he musi« of the band, and now making the hills ring i1gaill with the name of 'I'oussaiut Breda.

As General Hermonu, entirely ilH1i:';PORCd £01' his siesta, watched the march through his glass from file entrance of his tent, while the notes of the wiud-iustrumeuts swelled find died away in the still air, one of.his aides wus overheard by him to say to auothcr->

" The General has probably (·hang-ed lti~ opinion since he sai£l to vou thls 111()1~11illZ~ of 'I'onssaint 131~(~(1("ltt thnt (_}()(l (t()ltl(l 11(Jt

• L " ~

visit It SOUllHOl'C pur('. \V- e ha \-0 all I1tHl to elr~l1lge Ollr ulillds

rather 1110re rapifUy tlWll suits sHell .'1 w.um r-Iimatr-."

"You may have changpd yonr (1)iniolls siuro the sun F

rose, gentlemen," said Hermona ; "but I fun not sure that I have.'

" How ! Is it 1)058ib1e? 'Ve do not understand you, Iny lord.'

,. Do you suppose fhat you understand hhn? Have we been

of a degraded race, slaves, and suddenly offered restoration to full manhood and citizenship? How otherwise can we understand this mau P I do not profess to do so."

" Yon think well of him, my lord ? "

t.

U I aiu so disposed, 'I'imc, however, """ill show. He lW::-i

gOlle ::nray magnanimously enong'h, alone, and lwlicyiug', I HIll confit1ellt., from "hat Fnther Laxahon tells me, t·hnt his career is closerl : but I rather think we shall hear more or him."

" How these people revel in music !" observed one of the stuff'. " H O\V they nrc pouring it forth 110'V ! "

".A.lltl not without reaS01l, surely,' saiil Hermona. "It is th e i 1- o X () (Ill S t 11 nt, , .. o :11 ~ e , , .. n t r J ~ j 1) ~ t . ' ,

.... '

BRED_i\ AG40.\.IN ~

THE F'rench proclumation was effie-iently published alollg t.ho line of march of the blacks, They shouted and 8ang the tidiugti of their freedom, joining' with them the name of Toussaint Breda. 'I'hese t,idings of freedom rang through the ravines, and echoed 111) the sides of the hills, and through t.he depths of the forests, startling tho wild birds OIl the mouutain ponds und the deer among the llig-h Il11'11S; and bringiug (lO,Y11 £1'0111 their fast. 11(~S.~l~S tt iuult itud» of nu-u who llatl fic(l thit lior from the vengcuncc uf tho whites nud mulattoes, and to escape sharing in the violence of the negro ferr-o which J can Frnncnis had left behind him, to pUl'sue uncontrolled their course of plunder and butchery. Glad, to snell, 'were the tiding's of freedom, with order, and undor t.he commnnd of 011e whose name w as never mentioned without respect, if not onthusinsm. '1'110 negro who did ]lot know' that there 'YHS auv more world on tho other side tho

•

Cihao l)caks, hall yet learned to he 1)100\1£1 of the learning or

'I'oussaint, The slave who conceived of God as dwel liujr in tho iUllerlllost of the l\forucs, and corning forth to govcrn His subjects with tIle fire of the lig'htlling nnd the scythe of the hurricane. was yet able to revere t,hn l>ipt.y of Toussaint. The black bandit, who Irad dipped Iris hands ill tho blood of llis master, nnd fCRt;h'(l his car with the g'l"otUl~ of tho iuuoccut babes who IHul ~at ltl'lIr~ ltis kIl0{'. ,yet. ~plt t1!at thf'l'(~ ,,'as . S?lllet,hill~. irnpressi \'0 III th.. ~~l!:qllt! llablt. of fOl',~'lrf'l1C~';,~. 1110 Ylgllallt Sl)u·lt of mercy

83

which distinguished Toussaint Breda from all his brethren in arms from ull the leading men of his colonr, except his fr ieur] Henri Christophe. At the name of 'I'oussuiut Brecht, then, these floe-ked do,yn into the rond by hundreds, till they swelled tho numbers of the march to thousands. The Spuuish soldiers, returning to their ctnnp by snch by.ways as they could find, heard again and again froiu fL distance t.he cries of welcome and or tritunph ; and OIlO or two of t hem (' hauced to wi tuoss f'roin a high point of rock, or through a thick screen of folinge, tho joyous progress of the little artily, hastening' on to find their chief. 'I'hese involuntary spies gathered at every point of ohservation nC\Vf5 which would gall the yery soul of J can Francais, if they should get back to tho call1!> to tell it.

Jacques knew where to seek his f'riend, and led tho "~fly, 011 descending from the hills, straight across the plain to tho Brecht. estate, where Toussaint meant to await his fruu ily. How' U11- like was this plantation to what it "as when these negroes had seen it last ] Tho cane-fields, heretofore so t.ri tu null orderly, with the tall canes sprillgillg from tho clean hlack soil, wore now a juuglc. 'I'he old plants had run up till they lHHI leaned oyer with their own ,Yeig-ht, and fn llcn npon one another. 'I'lu-ir

1.,__

Ruckel'S had sprung' up in myriuds, so that. the racoon which

Inn-rowed amonjr t.hem could scarcr-Iy make it;-:; ,,-uy in and onto The grnss on tho little enclosed lawns gTe,," so rank, that the , .. attle, now wild, were almost hidden as they lay down in it; and so uneven :\11(1 unsightly were the patches of growth, thnt the blossoming shrubs with whicl: it, had been sprinkled for ornament now looked forlorn find out of plar-c, ficnrcring" amidst the desolation. Tho slave-quarter was scarcely tlistiIlguishahlo f1'0111 the wood hphillfl it. so lle;lrJy was it o"l'rgrn\YIl wit li ,,'ueds. A yOllllg' foal 'Y,h lH'{I\\"Hillg' nn tile t llah·h, .nu] a e rowrl of glitt(\riug" lizards dtlric(l out and nwny on 1 he nppl'oaeh or ] III J II (111 f (! e t. .

Jacques did Hot stay at the sIn \·0 qumtcr ; but lu: t1t!~irl'll lds rOlllpUllY to remain there and in the llcighbollrillg' field, whi Io 110 went wif h Ther('sc to hrillg out the-ir chief to thoiu. rrlH'.\p 'fl)nt up to the house; hut ill 110 one of its dcsertr«] chambers dill t lu-y 1111(1 T()llSSaill t.

'" Perhaps he is in his own cottugc," said Therese.

" Is it possible," repljc(l J acqnes, " t hat, wit li this fino house r.ll to himself, ho should tuke up with t hut 01(1 lm t P "

" Let 118 see," sail! Therese; "for he is certainly not 1101'C." 1Vhen tIley reached Toussaint's cott-tlgr, it \rHS no casy martcr to know how to effect fin entrance. EllOl'lllOllS gourds had spread their network over tho groHud, Iiko traps for the feet of h'tlSP:1S:--;P]"H. 'I'ho front of fll(' piazza WHH ('olnplptely o\-('r;:!T(l\\"ll wit]: t h.: (')""1'1)(']'::; which h.ul been l.ro 11 g-ht tlH're onlv to cuv er

F2

the posts, and hung' their blossoms from the eaves. They had now spread and tanirlcd themselves, till they made the houso look like a thicket. In one place, however, between two of the posts, they had been torn down, and the evening wind was tossing the loose coils about. J acques entered the g'ap, and immediately looked out again, smiling, and beckoning Therese to come and sec. There, in the piazza, they found Toussaint, stretcher] asleep upon the bench so soundly asleep, for once, that the w Iiispers of his friends did Hot nIter, for a 11l0111Cllt, his Iica \~y brcntliillg.

"' 11 {HV tired he must he 1 " sairl JnC-f{l1Ps. ,,_{\_ t ot hnr t burs I

have known his sleep so light., that. lu- ,Y:lS ],ro:u1 aw.rk« lIS (illiek as a lizard, if n, hcpt.le (11(1 hut, Hail OVPl" h is head."

"lIe lUUY well be fired," said rrhcl"c'tie. •• Yon JOIO"" how

•

,,'cary ho lookell at U)HSS this Inol"uiug. I he-lic,To he 11:1(1110 rest

last nijrht : und now t liis mu rr-h to.(1ny- "

" \Vell 1 He 11111st rouse np now, h01YCY01'; for his business will not wait." And he enllea hint hy his n.uuo.

H Henri! " cried 'I'oussaint, start injr up.

'" No, not Henri. I aru Jaeques.Yotl arc not nwake yr-t, aurl the place is dark, I am your friend Jaeclnes, fhYe inches short or than Hr-m'i. Y ou see? "

s , Yon here, .Incqucs l nud Therese! Surely I am not a wal:e yet ." " y CS, you arc, !l(HV yon know 'I'hcreso whom yon w i l] henceforth look upon HS Illy wife. \Vo are both free of the whites now, for eyer."

H Is it possible ? "

a It is true; 1\11(l we will tell you nIl In·c-sPllt1y. But first

explaiu why you caned me Henri us you wnke. If ,YO could see Hcuri - "! 11'~ di.] vou 11<1 111C~ IIt~111ti ~ "

..... ....

.• Because he was the next PCl'bOll I ex})eetl'd to ~l'('. I met one

Oll the war whu kucw where Ire was, and tuok a Inps~age to him. '.! .~ 1 f we r-ouk] It'ntu from Hellri" ~aid Jaeqne:s .

. , IIl:'l'tJ is Henri," st!id the calm, kindly, well-kuow» voie« of the powerful Christophe, who now- showed himself out-side. The other went out to hiiu, and greeted him heurtily .

.• 'Yhnt news, Henri P " asked Toussaint. .. How nro affn irs fit Cap P What is doing about the prochunatioll t herc P "

.i Affairs are going badly at Cap. The mulattoes "Till no more 11(1a1' our In'oelnnultioLl than the whites would hear t heirs. They have shut up General Lavcaux in prison; and the French, without their military leader, do not know what to do next. 'I'he cummissary has no authur ity, und talks of e1l11mrking" for Fraucc : a nrl thf' troops are ~ursillg- tho ll('gl'O(l~. for ,Yhn~e sake', t h('y sny, t lu-ir G-C'JlPral iR irn prisoncrl, and w il l soon die of tho ]1C:1 t s .. ,

" \Y' e must deliver G enernl La vcaux," snit! 'I'oussniut. ,; Our

t

work already lies straight before us. 'V e must raise a force.

Henri, can you brillg soldiers? "

" Ay, Henri," said Jaeques, " what force can you bring' to joiu {' III ~ s? G tIll P 1 ~(11 T () 11 SSt) i J J t .R l~ e ( 1 it J ~ : 11'; six t J , () 11 ,~ t 111 ( 1 J 1 r ]~ t ~ :1 t J ~ :1 J] ( 1 ,

half of whom n re discipliucd sol<1il'l·~. ,n,ll ;ll'nH·(l. The l't.'st n1'0 part inlly nruuxl, aud ]ULYC st.roll~ ]wal'ts HH(l l"t';uly hnu(ls."

'I'oussaiut ~tnrHe<1 round, as if to know what Jae<llll's could inoau.

,. General," Raid JHf'fjlles, '" the army I speak of is t licro, nlnollg" those fields, burning to greet you t lw]r couunnncle r ; hnt in j110 mrnut.ime, I h!'li('\'n~ snpping hpurt ily on "\yhntC'v('l" t,hpJ ('an find ill your wilderness 1,C'l'P, in 1 hp ~hapo of maize, plllll]_)kills, :tud plantaius nnrl ,,,hat «lse, yon kl1<IW' better HUlll 1 'I'hat is l'ight, Therese; rest Y01l1'sl,1£ ill tho piazza, ant] I will In'illg you F;Ol11C supper, too.")

U Six thousand, did you say, Jnrqnrs ? H s.rirl Henri. ,. I can rnlly two thousand this night, aHd more will join 011 the way."

.. "r C Il1USt free Lavcaux before snn rise." said Toussaint. " Will our iI'OOPS be fit for a march nftcr t his supper of theirs, .J [le(l ncs~a£ter supper and thr("{':\ hours' rp~t? .,

" They arc fit at this 11l01l1Cllt to 111fl1'<:"h over the island to swim from St. Domingo to Fraucc, if vou wil! only lead the Ill."

(,_ .... ....

replied Jacques. " Go to them, find they will do whnt you will."

"So be it ! " said 'I'oussaint, his bosom for it moment heaving with the thought. that his career, even us viewed hy Father La xa. bon, was not ended. "Henri, what is the state of the plain? Is the road open ~ "

" Far fron1 it. The mulattoes arc suspicious, and on the watch against, some danger- I believe they nrc not clear 'rhnt. I avoided SOI11e of their scouts ; anrl tho long" "ray they marle 1119 go ronnel was t,he reason of my being late."

Observing that 'I'ou-saiut looked thonsrhtful , he pro('e(~de(l:

"I ilnagillo there is no force ill tho plain that conlll resist your numbers, if yon nrc sure of yonr troops. The 1"0;)(1 is opell, if thev Cl1()OSC that it lJC S().~'

.._. .

. , I lUll sure of DIlly half of t.11(~111; n11£1 theu there i~ iJJC town.

I t sec ius to HIe, J a eq ues, tha t I ina y III ore de pl~IHl 11 pOll Illy troops, in their present mood, for a merry uig'ht march, though it he a long one, than for a skirmish through the plain, thong'h it be a short 011e."

Jacques assented. It was agreed that the litt.lc army should proceed by the mountain t.racis, round by Plaisance aut] Gros l\Iorne, 80 as to arrive by the Haut-rlu-Cup, in which directiun it was not likely that a foe should be Iooked for. Thus they could IJonr into tho town £rOJll the western heights before sunrise, while tho scouts of the mulatto rebels were looking for them across the eastern plain.

86

THE E-IOlIR A~\lD 771E AlAN.

'I'liis settled, Jacques went down among his forces, to tell t hem that their genernl was eIJgnged in [l, council of war Henri Cln-istopho hHving joined from Cap, with a promise ():f t,l'OOPS, and with intelligence which would open tho way to victory and freedom. The general allowed t,he111 ten minutes more for refreshment, and to form themselves into order; and he would thon present himself to them. Shouting \YUS forbidden, lest any foe should be within lteuring; hut a murnmr of delight and mutual congratulation ran t.hrough the ranks, which were begin .. niug to form while tho leader 0-£ their march was yet speaking. He retreated, carrying with him the best arms he could select for tho use of his gonel'al.

While he 'YHS gOIlOt 'I'oussaint stopped back into tho piazza, where Therese sat quietly watching tho birds flitting ill anr] out Ul11{}11g tllc folia.g~c and fl.()'\~(_\l·S •

.... - ..._ -

,. rrhercs(\" sai(l he, H what vdll yon do this night and to-

11101~ltOY\"'? ~ \']10 w ill t <11\:0 care of von ? ~!

..

~~ I know 11 ot I care 11()f.,!) said she, " 'I'hero are 110 whites

hr-ro : and I ani well where they nrc not. "Till yon Hot let Inc

t 1 ~. "

s ~ \ \P 1 {ll·f~ :

..

" Did J nCC1l1CS SHY, find Stly truly, that yon :u'e lli:; ,rifl' ~ ~,

"I-Io sn id so, aud tru ly. I have been wrct eli (1 (1, for

10110• "

~

" And sinful. V{ rete hcdness and f~i II go tog(lt her."

" A1Hl I was sinful; but no one told Inc so. I ,,~as 19'1l0rnnt" and weak, mu] a sluve. N ow I tun a, woman aud a wife, No 11101'0 whi tcs, 110 11101'0 sill, 110 more miscry ! '\Till yon not let 1110 stay here? "

" I will : aud here you ,yill presently be snfe, and well cared lor, I hope. My wif'o mul lny ehilLlren nrc coming 1101118- coining, probably in a few' hours, They will make this n homo to yon till .Incqucs call giye you one of your 0)'"11. Yon shall he guarded here till lny l\iurg-ot arri ves. Shall j t he so ? "

" Shall it ? Oh, thank God! J acqncs," she cried, us she heard her hnsbnnd's step approaching. "Oh, Jacques! I tun hUPI1Y. 'I'oussaiut Breda is kind he has forg iven InC he welcomes

lllC hia wife "rill · "

Tears drowned her voice. 'I'oussaint said gently____,.

'" It is not for me to forgive, Therese, whom you 11fiVO never offenued. God has forgiYcn, I trust, your young' years of sin. Y on w ill atone (will yon not P) by the purity of your life by watching over others, lest they suffer as you have done. Yon will guard tho minds of Illy young daughters ~ will Jon Hot? You will thank God through Iny Gellifrcde, Illy Ahl1ce P "

,; I will, I will," she eagerly cried, lifting up her face, bright throngh her tears. "Indeed Illy heart will be pure longs to he P In'C\''

"I know it" T]l{~rcse," sairl 'I'oussaiut. "I have alwnys

believed it, and I now know it."

He turned to Jacques unll said-

" Y on declare yourself to be under Iny comiuand ? ,. " Yes, 'I'onssniut , yon nrc 111,}'" gCHOl'nl."

" Well, t,h011, I appoint yon to the duty of rcmaiuing here, with a troop, to gnnrd 11lY funljIy ('V]10 nro c(nning in n fc,Y hours), and this estate. I have SQIne hopes of doing what I waut at Cap without striking fL blow ; and yon w il] ho bett.(\l" here. Y all hate the whites too 11l11C]l to Iiko )11'~ wnrf'nre, Furewell,

..

Th{~l'rsc' ! .Iacqucs, follow 1119, 1-0 l't"\t'C1Yf' yon r 11·00p."

THE town of Cap Fruncnis wus uoxt l1l01'lling· in [L hurry, which attracted the att entiou of General Lavcnux in h is prison, and 1'110 French connnissarv, Polvercl, on hoard t he yessel ill the roads,

....

in which he had taken rcfngc £1'0111 the ruul.rtt ocs, aud where he

held himself in rcadluess to set s..il for France, ill CflSC of nllY gl'fiye l1isHster befalling tho Gcnel'ul or t he troops. From his cell, Laveuux heard ill the streets the tramp of horses and of lunnnu feet. ; and from the <leek of the Orphf.e, Polvcrcl 'watched tlrrough his glnss the bustle on the wharves, nnd the putfing off of more than one bout, w'hieh prepared him to receive news.

The UC'YS came. Tho report ,YHS universal in f.he towu tlutt Toussaint Breda, had gone oyer f'rom t.he nllies to tho side of republican France; and that this step llad been foJIowrd by n large defection from the :tHicd forces, ]'Iesscnp:cr~ IH1<l .urived , one after another, with dispatches which lUHI been intercepted by t.he mulattoes, These 'rho brought, t.hern, .how'"evel', hurl given out that some posts had been surrendered, without a SUlll111 OIlS. into the hands of the French. This 'las certainly tho cuso with MarnUl.lado nnd Plaisance ; and others wore confidently spoken of.

" Offered to our hands just when our hands are tied, and we cannot ta.ke them l " said Polverel. "If our fresh regiments would only arrive to-day, and help us to wrench the pr ison keys from the hands of thoso devils of lllulnttocs, and let out Lnveaux, the eolony would be ours before night.'

As he spoke, he swept the horizon to tl1e north. and east with his glass; but no welcome sail "\,<18 visible.

"Now look the other way," said the commander of the ycsscl ; "if there is no help at sea, try if there he none on land. I have

ss

been watching i,hat mountain-side for SOI110 time : and, if I am 11 ot 11111()11 mistaken. t1101·0 is an arrnv of (111S1,v fel lows there.'

~ ......

" Dusky 1 mulattocs ' then ,YO arc lost ! » cried Fulvcrol. ';1£

tho mulattoes from the south have come up in any numbers "

" They are black as tho night that is just gone," said the commander, still keeping his eye fixed on the western heights above tho town. "Sec, the sun strikes them now, They arc hlacks. TIle negroes under 'I'oussaiut himself, very probably, I shall not have the pleasure of carrying yon to France just yet, 1\1. Polvercl.'

N otwithstandiug the display of black forces on the Haut-duCap, the bustle of the town seemed to he in the opposite direction. A few shots were fired in the south-east quarter, und some smol«: arose from thence. This 'YHS soon explained by the lIe'YS that Henri Christophe had appronr-hcd the town from tho plain, with four or five t,honsnnd IllCH, nnd was forciug an entrance that way. 'I'here was little conflict. 'I'oussaiut pourer] dowu his fort-e through the barracks, where tho French soldiers gave him n hearty welcome, anel along tho avenues of Governnlcut Honse, and the neighbouring public offices, in which quarter the mulattoes had little interest. Witllill an 110Ul~, t he mulattoes had all slunk baek int.o their homes, t.elling their families t,hat t.hey could have dealt with the French alone, but that they could not withstand an army of twenty thousand men (only doubling the real number), which had dropped from the clouds, for aught they knew. 'I'he few' dead bodies were removed, the sand sucked IIp their blood, and the morning wind blew dust oyer its traces . ..L"l boat was sent off, ill due form, to bring Commis:-)ury Polverel 110lllC to G overument House, Toussaiut himself went to tho prison to bring out Genel'al Lavcaux, with every domonstrat ion of respect; and all presently wore the aspect of n jour-de-fete.

Hour by hour tidillgs were spread which increased tho joy of t lio French, and the humiliation of their foes. The intercepted .Iispat.clu-s were gi,rell up, and more arrivcrl with the llC'VS of the successiv» defection from the al lies of aU the important posts in the colony, held by negro forces. In tho name of Toussaint Breda, the garrisons of Marmalade and Plaisance first d.eclared fur republican France; and after t hem, Gros- Morne, Hcnueri, and Le Dondon.

•

The news of the acquisition of these last arrived ill tho evening',

when the French officials wore eutertniuing the negro chief in t he salon of Governnlellt House. It was late : the house was hrilliantly lighted; and its ilhuniuations were reflected from a mulbitude of faces without. Late as it was, and great as harl I.cr-n the fatigues of the llPgro troops, they were not yet weary of hearing the praises of their own 'I'oussaiut. Adding their numbers to those of tho white inhabitants of Cap, they thronged

tho COUl't of GovCr1l111cllt, House and tho J esuits' \V'" alk : and even in the .Plaee dArclter and tho Rue Espngnolc, l)flssengers found it difficult, to make i heir ,,~tlyo The :If-iscluhlagc could scarcely have told what dctaiued tlu-ru there. u111("\.';s jt were the yngue expectation of 1110ro ]IC'YS, tho rcpctifion of tho praises t.hey loved to hear, and, perhaps, SOIll(~ hope of get,tillg one 11101"0 gliInpsc of 'I'oussaint OIl this llig'lit of his tvium ph. From mouth to 111011 th Cil·Cl11~1 t.c(l t ]10 words wl rich General La vcaux ] rarl SPOkPll in tho morning, when l'elcHse(l from his prison ,. 'I'his muu is tho saviour of tlw \yllites-tlw avenger of the nuthor it ios. He is surely the black, the Spnrtaeus pre<li~ted hy Rn}"naJ, w hose destiny it s11 oul: 1 be t 0 tl\~(,Ilg'C the ,yrongs of hi S race.' From 1110nth to mouth went these words , fLIHl from heart to heart spread tllO glo\y thoy kindled.

'I'unssainf himself had heard tlu-so worrls ; alHl in his heart, nlso were they ghnvillg. As 110 sat; at table, refreshing himself wit h fruits, but (nrcol"{lillg to his invm-in 1)10 custom) l"efnsi11g wine, he was reminded by all t hat passed that his career was not ended. He wore tho uniform of hrigndier-gelleral~a token that ]10 hall not lost rank. 1\1. Pol vercl 11(1(1 declared his intent ion of soon returning to France , and General Lavcaux had said that when he was thus left in elwrge of t.he colony, he should entreat General 'I'oussaint, ,,~11o best 1111(1(:1~Stoo(1 its affairs. to fill the office of Iieuteuant-jrovcrnor, and should also be guided in mili tary affairs implieitly by his counsels. Toussaint heard, and felt thai, in truth, his career "'3S not ended. He was requested to name a day when he 'would take t,he oaths publicly, aud receive the homage of tho gl'atcfnl colony; and in his reply he took occasion to declare with earnestness that his present course of action orijrinatcd altogether in the decree of tho Con-

- (._

veution ill favour of the ncgroes ~ nud that the resources of his

power and influence should u11 be direeted towards l"<lisillg" his race to t hut in tcllectuul and 11101':11 C<lnality wit]: tIle whites, without which fher could neither t)J)joy 110r rctniu the political equality \\Thieh the Conveutiou Irnrl decreed. In tho urirls]. of the strongly expressed sympat hy of his hosts, wlrn were this day disposed to approve and admire all he said and did while they "ere uttering hO})(\8 for his own people which touched his soul, the final news of fhis gr('u.t day 'YHS brought in, contained in dispatches which told of the ncquisition of the posts of Limhd n nd I' A.cuI-the two bars to tho norf h-wcsf o rn lWlljllslda of tho colony. The eommandcrs declared their adhesion to the cause of the l)l~le ks :111(1 'I'oussain t Bl~cl1a~

" Bravo ! " cried Ole Frr-nr-h gencral: "t.hat ohstinute region is onrs ~ ,-V o will march through those posts to hold our fest.ival, nud the oaths shnll be tnkon at Port Paix. 'Vas 11 at, that district considered the most obstinntr , g"C'll(\l'al ? .,

'I'oussaint did not answer. He did not hear. 'I'ho mention of Port .Paix carried back his thoughts to the night when ho was last there, heavy at heart, assistillg his master to escape.

" AU is QUI'S, now, through him,' said 1\1. Polverel, gazing fit his gnost,

" Yes," rejoined Laveaux , "he is the Napoleon Bonaparte of St. Domingo."

" Who is he? who is N apolcon Bonaparte?" asked 'I'onssainr,

1"011SCtl to listen. "I Ita vc heard his name. Wllat has he dOIle?"

"He is a young French artillery officer "

" A Corsican by hirth," interposed Polverel.

"Is he really r I was not aware of that," said Laveaux.

"Tllut circumstance somewhat increases tho resemblance of t.ho cases. He was ill-used (or tl1ongl1t he was) by his officers, and was OIl the point of joining the Turkish service, when ho was employed ill tho defence of the Convcutiou, tho other day. He sa vcd t he COlI von tion 110 sa ved P:ll-is'· and ho is a 1)011 t to put. off his uniform of- brigadier-general" (aud Laveaux smiled and bowed as ho spoke) "like yourself, he is about to put off his uniform of brigndier-gencrnl for that at a higher rank. His 11 a 1110 was known before ill conucetion with the siege of Toulon. But this last achievement is the gralla one, H(; has cIt'ill'cd the path of the Convention. Polvcrel, did I not sny rightly that General rronssaillt is tho Napoleon Bouaparte of St.

Doiuinjro ? "

" Yes. General Toussaint also is lllu-king for us an opcnillg evervwhero. "

c::

'I'oussnin! hcurd the words, hut they Illude a faint impression

at tho moment of his imngiunt ion being fixed OIl the young artillery officer. There were those present, however, ,,"'110 lost nothing" of what was spoken, and who conveyed it all to tho Gnger cars outside. Tho black attendants, the gazers and listenors who went ill and out, intoxicated "with the glory of the negro general, reported all that was said of hirn. 'I'hese last few words of Polverel wrought wonderfully, and were instantly spread through tho excited multitude, A shout was presently heard, which 111USt have sounded fur np tho mountains and oyer the bay; and PoI-verel started with surprise wheu his word ("31nO hack to him in a response like that of an assembled nation.

" L'ouvorture ! " "L'OUyertllrc!" cried tho multitude, fully comprehending what the word contained in its application to . their chief, "Toussaint L'Ouverture 1 " Henceforth, the city, the colony, the island, and, after a time, all Europe, rang with the name of Toussaint L'Ouverture.

When Toussaint heard tho cry from without, he started to his feet , aud his hosts rose also, 011 secinjr the fire ill his eye-- ... brighter than during the deeds of tho morning.

91

"Tlle general would address them," said Polvcrcl, "You

wish to speak to the people, General 'I'oussaint." " N o," said TOllSSaiY1t.

" vVhat then r " inquired La yea ux,

" I would be alone," said 'I'oussaint, stepping' backwards £ro111 the table.

" Your fatignes have doubtless been great," observed Laveaux. " Lights shall be ordered in your npartment."

s , I cannot sleep yet," said Toussaint. " I cnnuot sleep till I have news from Breda. But I have need of thought, gClltlelllcll ; there is moonlight and quiet in these gardens. Permit Inc to leave you 110'Y."

He paced the shrubberies, cool with moonlight and with dew's; and his agif.atioll subsided when all eyes but thoso of Heaven were wi t 11(11"a.w11. HCl~O 110 fln tterics met his car ·-ll() srestnrcs

'l,_.J

of arlrnirat iou mado him drop his eyes, abashed. Constrained

as he yet felt himself in equal intercourse w it li whites, new to his recognised freedom, unassurcd in his acts, nncertuin of the future, and (as ho believed) unprepared for such a f'uture as was 110W' unfolding', there was something inexpressibly irksome and }nlllllJlillg ill the homage of the whites of men who understood nothing 0-£ him, and little of his race, and who eonhl ha YC none but polifical Inn'poses in t.hf'ir intercourso wit 11 him. Ho needed this ovcuing the sincerities as well as the soothings of nature ; and it was with a sense of relief that he easl. himself ouco again upon her bosom, to be iustructcd, with infalltine helief, how small an atom he was in the universe or Goel how low a rank he held in the hierarchy of the ministers of the Highest.

" Y et I ani one," thought he, as the shout of his name aud new fitlo reached his ear, distinct, thongh softened by distance. " I am an appointed minister. It soerns as if I were the OIlO of whom I myself ]WTC spoken as likely to arise not, as La voaux says, after Rayllnl, to flTCUg'C, but to repair the wrong's of llly colour. LOYf, indeed, arc ,YO sunk, deep is our ignoranco, abject are Ol11· wills. if sue h [L 0110 as I am to l)e t]l(~ loader of t 11011S[l11Cls

...

-I, whoso will is yet unexercised I, 'who shrink ashamed before

the kllo,yledgc of the meanest white I, so lately a slftye- so long dependent that I am an oppression to myself am at this hour the ruler over ten thousand wills I 'I'ho ways of Goel arc dark, or it rnight seem that Ho despised His negro children in

w committing so many of them to so l)oor a gui(lo. But He despises nothing that He has made. It nluy be that we arc too weak and ignorant to be fit for better guidance in onr new state of rights and dutics. It may be' that a series of terre-hers is appointed to Illy colour, of whom I nm to be the first" only because I am tho Iowest , destined to gh'c ,yay to wiser guides when I have taught :\11 that. I know', and done all that. I can, May it be so! I will

devote 111yse1£ wholly ; and wlien I have dono 111ny I be more willing to hide myself ill Iny cottage, or lie down ill my grave, than I have been this day to accept the new lot which I dare not refuse.' Deal gently with Inc, (_) God! and, however I fail, let me not, see lUY children's hearts hardened, as huurts are hardened, by powor ! Let UIC not soc in their faees the look of uuthoritj-, 1101" hear in their voices the tones of pride l Be with Jlly people, o Christ! The weaker I aUI, tho more he Thou with t,h(~lll, that Thy gOSI)clluay be at last rccei vcd l The l1ca.rts of Illy people

are soft thoy are gentle, they are woak : let Thy gospel mnke them pure let it Blake them free. 'I'hy gospel-,yJio has not Iu-ard of it" and who has scen it? Mn.y it he fouud ill tho

...

hearts of 1l1Y people, the d{\spise<1! and who shall tlu:n <le~pi~e

them asruiu t The l)1_U~t i.s all guilt and groans. Into t he f'uture

( ~

opeu tL bel.tc r way- *'

"rronssaint L'OuYcrture! " he heard again £1'0111 afar, and

bowed his head, orcrpo'l"crcl1 ,,·ith hope.

'" Toussaint L'Ouverture l " repeated some light gay voices close at hand, His boys were come, choosing to bring themselves the new's from Breda that 1\fargot and her daught.ers, nnd old Dessnlines and l\.Ioyse were all there, safe and happy, except for their dismay at finding tho cottage and field ill such a state of desola tion.

" They 'will not miud when they hear that they are to Ii ve ill a mansion henceforward," said PLacido. "J ean Francais had better have stood by his colour, as we do."

" And how have you stood by your colour, my young hero?" H I told J ean in the camp to-day"

" J can ! In the cauip l How came you there? "

" "Te were so near, that I galloped ill to see what they thought of your leaving, and who had followed you."

" Then I thank God that yon arc hero."

" J can caught me : hut the (lcllel'nl bado hirn let uis go, and nsked whether tho blacks made 1YUr upon children. I told him that I was not a child; and I 101d Jean that you had rather liye in a cave for the sake of the blacks, than go off to the court of

S· "

Pilll1--

H \Vhnt made you funcy I should go there? "

" Not you, but J call. Jean is going, he says, because he is a noble. There 1yill S0011 be peace between France and Spain, he says; and then he shall be u noble at the court of Spain. I am

1 d 1· -III "

g a ie IS gOlllg ~

" So run I, if he thinks he shall be happy there."

" \Ve 8J13,11 be better without him," said .Isaao. "He would never he quiet while you were made Licuteuaut-Governor of St. Domingo. Now you will be alone and uuuiolestcd in your power."

"There did you learn all this :' -"

93

"Everyone knows it- CYCl'Y 0110 in Onp_ Eyery one Hn01YS that Jean has dono 'lith UR, and that the COlllmis~ary is going home, aud that General Lavuaux 111CfillS to bo glude(l in e\P£'rything by yon; and that the posts have all surrendered in your

name; and that at POT~t Paix "

" Enough, enongh! Iny boys, Too much, £01' I sec that, yonI' hearts are proud."

.• The Conuuissary and tho General said tllnt yon are supreme --.t he idol of vour colour. '1']1080 wore t heir W01'(ls.~'

....

" And in t.ltis there is yet no glory. 1 hayc yet done nothing,

but by what is called aecident. Our own l)(lople \YC1'e rrady-~ by no prepuration of mino ; the muln t toes wore wonk anrl taken by surpr'iso, through cirr-umstances Hot of Illy ordering. Glory there may hereafter be helongilJg to 0111' ruuno, Iny boys ; but as yet there is none. I have powcr : hut power is less often glory t hall disgrare."

" Oh. fat-her! do hut Iistcn. Hark agaIll! 'Tonssaillt L'On,~c rturo ! ' "

" I will strive to make thnt shout a propllf'ry, Illy sons. Till then, no prido! Arc yon not w cary P Corne in to rest. Call you sleep in Illy fine eluunher hero as well a~ at. Breda P "

" Anywhere," said Isaac, sleepily.

Toussaint p;avo up his upart iucut to h is sons, ana went forth once 1110re to Slll'\~Cy the town, and sec that his troops woro ill their quarters. This done, he repaired io his friend Henri, ,villing for one more night t.o forego his greatness; and there, in his friend's small barrack .. rooru, the supreme in f.he colony ............... the idol of his colour slept, as JU! 11ad lJoped for Ids hO~'R, as tranquilly as if he had been nt. Breda.

CHAPTER X.

A MORN LNG OF O}'FICE.

IF the rlevustaf iou attending tho rcvol nfiouary wars of St. Domiugo was grcnt., it. was repaired with siujrulnr rapidity. 'I'hauks to the vigorous ng-e-ueies of nature ill a tropical reg'iOll, the desolated plains were presently covered "Tit h fresh hurvest s, and the burut woods were liuried deep uurlvr the s]uldo,v of YOllllP: forests, more beautiful than the old. Thanks also to tho g0Yel"llln(lut of the wisest lllilld. ill t he i~lalHl. the moral evils of the stl'llg-g'le were made snhonlntate to Its good results. It ,,9HS not ill t ho po,yc-r of mau to lmrv pnst iujurit-« in nhliviou, whil« there were continually present ruiuds which had been dehas('(l

94

by tyranny, and hearts which had been outraged by cruelty; but all that could be dono was done. Vigorous employment was Illude tho great law of society the 011e condition of the favour of its chief; and, amidst the In bonrs of the hoe and the mil], t,he workshop and the wharf=-aiuidst the toils of the march anti the bustle of the court, the bereaved and insulted forgot their ,YOCS and their revenge. A new g"l"(Hvth of veneration aud of hope overspread the ruins of old delights and attachments, as tho verrlure of the plain spread its rnnnt le over the wrecks of mnusion and of hut. In SCYCU years £ro111 the kindling of the first incendiary torch 011 the PIn inc dn N ord, it would have been Imrd for a stranger, landing ill St. Domingo, to heliovo what had been th e ] 1 o rr 0 1·8 of t he ,,"":11-.

Of these seven years, however, the first t hrr-e or £onr had been entirely spent in 'war, and tl1c rest disturbed by it. Double that number of years must pass before thero could be filly security that t.ho crOI) planted would ever he reaped, or that tho peasants ,y110 laid out their frunily burying-grounds would be carried there in lull agt\ instead of pedshiug" ill the field or in tho woods. The eulti vators went on t to their daily work with tho gun slung across their shoulders aud the CHt lass in their belt: the hills 'YCl'C crested with forts, nlld the mountain passes were watched by scouts. The troops were frequently rcviewc«] ill the squares of the towns, and news was perpetually arr'iving of a skirmish here or there. 'I'ho mulatto general, Rigaud, had Beyer acknowledged tho authority of 'I'oussaiut L'Ouvrrture; aud he was still in the field, with a mulnt to force sufficient to interrupt the prosperity of the colony, and endanger the aut ho, rity of its LientPllullt-Go-vcrnor. It was SOUle fime, however, since Rig-and had approached any of tho large towns, The ~nff('rers hy his incursions were tlw planters :111(1 field-labourers, 'I'he j 111 inl: i tall t s of t 110 towns cn rried on their duil v affairs ns if pt'Heo had been fully established ill the island, autl fCl,lillg' the e.fi(ll'ts of such warfare as t hero was ouly ill their occasional cout ribut.ions of time alHl 111011('),.

'1'110 C()llllll:lllClcl'l- ill- e hicf, :18 Toussaint L' 011 ver .. ture ,,:18 l'all{'fl, hy tho nppoinf meut of t.ho French commissaries, thong'h Iris dignit.y had not yet been conflrmod Irom Paris-the Coinmnndcr-in-chief of St. Domingo held his head-quarters at Port:lll-Pl'ill("C'. Amung' ot.her considerations which l"t'llderea this couvunicnt tho chief was that he thus avoided much col lisiou wit.h the French officials, which must otherwise havo taken })lace. All the ccmurissarics, ,,-110 rapidly succeeded one another from Paris, resided at Government Honse, in Cap Francais. 'l'1HlJlt'O t lu-y issiu«] {)r(lf'l's nnrl l"P,u.;llln tions in 1 he na 1110 of l tho gO\,t'l'lJIlHlllt, :tt. homo ; orders nud l'f·gulai-io!lS ,yliieh wor« sonieti ures pl"a{·ti(_"al)1p~ s:J!l:eti!lle-; unwise, Hutl oft I'll alJ:-iunl. If

95

Toussaint hacl resided fit Cap, a constant witness of their igllo~ ranee of the minds, mnnuers, and interests of the hlucks if he l1ad been thCl·O to listen to the complaints and nl)peals ,,~hich would have been daily mndo, he could scarcely lU1YC kept terms for [L single week with the French authorities. By establishing himself ill the south, wlii]o they rernaiued in the north, he 'YHS able quietly to neutralise or repair much of the mischief which they did, and to execute lUUl1Y of his 01Yll plans without consu1ting them; while llllllly a grieYHnCe wns silently borlle; lUnllY an order simply neglected, which won ld Iiave been fL cause of quarrel, if any po,yer of redress had been nt 11a11(1. J oalous 3S he was f'or t110 infant f'reedoui of his 1~(1rr.~ T01ISS:lil1t know t lint it would be hest preserved hy weaning their 111 inds fr01H thoturhts of finger, nnd their oycs £1'0111 tho sight of blood. 'I'rust iu tho better part of negro nature guided Iritu in his choico between two evils. He preferred that they should be misgoverned in some affairs of secondary iiuportnueo. nnd keep the l}cacc, rather than thnt they should be goycrncd to their hearts' content hy himself, at the risk of quarrel with the mother country, He trusted to the singnhn' })o\yer of forbearance and f(}l'p;iyeHeS~ which is found in the nrgro race for the preservation of friendship with the whites and of the blessings of peace; ant] he therefore reserved his own powcrj'u] influence OYer both l)nrties for great occasions interferiug only when he perceived tlHtf~ through carelessness or ignorance, the French authorities were f'u(langeriug SOlllC esseutial Iibert.y of those to '''}10111 they were the medium of the pleasure of the gOYCrU1IH:nt at h01110. 'I'ho blacks were aware that the vigilance of their Couunandor-inchief oyer their civil rights never slept, and that his i ntcrferonce always avnilcd ; HIl<l t heso r-ouvivtious ensured t hrit· suhmissi all; or a t. least their nut gOillg' heroll (1 ] ulf.;~i n: rcsi ~d n ncr: (111 ordinary occasions, and t h ns st ren gt h cued their hit l)i t:) of

1)(_l:1 (-. (' _ ~

'l'11C Connnander-iu-c 11icf ]lclt_l llis lL~'''c{~S (It, P01~t -tll t- Pl~j"I1 (~C ()11 certain days of tho month, all tho yeHr r011l1(l No iuniter l](_)\\~ fur off ho lllight be, or how cngag'ed, the night before, ]10 rarely failed to be nt h01110 on the appoiuted day, at tho fixed hour. On ouo pnrf ieuln r occasion, he 'nlS known 1-0 have 1>('('11 out against Rig:nul, dnvand Big-ht. for a fOl'tHlgllt, :11H1 tn 1)(~ f'll)'j(~ly ellgaged as far Routh as .Aux Caycs, the Yl'ry cvcu lng' pre('p\l i Hg' tJIC review nnd Ievee which IlMJI 1)(~(~11 auuouncerl for tIle 2(-,1,11 ()f

January. Not tho l(lsS for this did he nppear in front of tho troops ill the Plneo llcpnhliealnc', "when tho L1:lyHght gus}1c(1 ill fr.nn the cast, putt.ins; out the sturs, "'hn~e reHeetioll trcmble.l i] I f lu- ~,t ill \\':t tors (Jf 1 ]1e JJ~l'~. '11}1 (~ ]:lS t ovo III t j ()) LS were fil lil~l J (~(1~

.... ,

: I 11 ( 1 t, 11 (' ~ ~~] 11 ( ll~ o f r ( ) r 11 111 { ~ ] { t s L v ( } 11 t. \ v ] L~ i { 1 ] t 1 (~'1 t. ( ~ t 1 : I w: i v i 1.1 i 1 J ( ~

~ ~

~'-'" p ~ ... 11 t) ~ 1\- \r 0 f J- "1 ' 1 11 t 11'" ,,.. 1 'l f ~ ft') tlll-). t 11 ('I. ( ... ( ~ ( ) II 1 ~ I ~, ...:.: ') r t 11 ~ '" II I ~ t tt 1 J t ., ~ ;., : 1 1 .• · ~ ~ .. \ I ...

• .......... ~ \~.l.. ~ " .L. -II ( .. _ ~ ....... -"....' ~ ... ... \_, ~ ) 'II l"__ , L' ~ _J. ,l .. _ 1 .1 1. :.i. \ I 4'''~" '

.. ..' I '

had yielded to the blaze of t·he mounting sun, The troops then linod t118 long streets of t.he town, and the avenue to the palace, while tho Commauder-in-chief and his staff passed ou, and entered the palace-gates.

'I'he palnee, like every other building in Port-au-Prince, consisted of one storey only. The town had been destroyed by au cart liquako in ] 770; aud , though earthquakes are extremely rare ill St. Domingo, the place had heen rebuilt in view of tho dfinger of auother. Tho palace thereforo covered a Inrge piece of ground, and its principal rOOl11S were caeh nearly surrounded hy gard~~ll and gl'ass-plnL The lnrgost apartrncnt in which the Icver-s "ere always hold, ,YW., tho host 1'00111 ill the island-« if not, for the r ichnoss of its furniture, for ifs spare and pl'opor~ tions, [l11(1 t.J1C views which i t (·Ollll)1:111(1(~(1. Not even the ahorlc of the Cornmandcr.in-r-hicf could exhihit such silken sofas, uinrhle tables, gaded balustrades, find japanned or ivory screens, as had boeu common in tho inunsions of the planters; and 'I'oussaint had found other uses for such Inolley us he had than those of pure luxury. The essential and natural ndvHllt,ng-cs of his palace were enough for him and his, ;1'110 fioor of this. his favourite apartment, was coverall with a fine Inrlia InattilJg"; the windows were hung with w .. hito runsliu curf.ains , aud tho sofas, which stood round three sirlos . of Hie room, Iictwccu t,ho numerous 'windows, were covered with grcrn damask, of 110 \'cry rich quality. In those lunny windows lay the charm, COB1~ ruauding, as they did, extensive prospects to the east, north, ttl 1 (1 wes t. Tl l e 1) roa d verandah cas t a sha (10 "of" "T 11 i r] 1 T~(_~ 11(1{_~l'Ll(_1 it unnecessary to koop tho jalousies closed, except during the hotrost hours of tho year. This morning eycry blind YfUS swung w icle open, ant] tho 1"00111 'Y:lS cool :111(1 shady, whil», without, all was bathed in the in ild, go]dell suush iue of J unuary--bright cllon,gh for the strollgPKt eye, but without gIul'e.-

f11() the cast nud uurl h spread tho Cul-de-Sac a plain of UIl· equalled richnes .... , ('xtelHlillg" to the foot of tllC tuountains, fifteen miles into the interior. 'I'ho sun had not yet i-iseu so high hut that these mountains cast a deep shadow for some distance into t.he plain, while their skirrs were dark with coffee-groves, and their summits were strongly marked against the glo\ving sky. Amidst the wide, verdant level of the plain, arose 11l<lUY it white mansion, each marked hy a cluster of trees, ('lose at hand. Some of these plantation houses looked bluish 811(1 eool in the mountain shadows ; others were like hright specks iu tho sunshine, ench surmounted lJY a star, if its g'ilded weathercock chanvcd to furu ill the breeze. To tho Borth. also, this plain. sti ll backed hy mountaius. extended till it, joined the sruuls of the hight ..

IT pOll these sands, 011 the Inargin of tIle deep blue wu tel's. lnight bc' seen fl.n;~hillg' ill tbc- SHU n troop of ftfl111illg0PS.1l0,Y

97

moving forward in a line into the waves, and diligently fishing' ; and then, on tho alarm of a scout all taking wing succcssi vcly, and keeping' their order, us they flow homewurds, to the salt marshes in tho interior - their scarlet bodies vividly coutrnster] with the dark green of the forests that clothpd the mountain sides. To the west lay tho broad azure sheet, of the hay. locked l)y the islnud of G-olun-e, 8Hd spl'Lllkled ,,,iih fishillg~ho:ds, whilo under the forest- t 11 ftcd rocks of i lIe island t·\, .. o 'T(~~SC 1 ~ rode :1 t anchor a sehoouer Lelollgiug to St.. Domingo, n nd n.n :E!llg-Iish frigate.

In t.ho shady western piazza sat a l)lu'iy who scoruml much occupied in looking out upon tho hay, and ,vnt()l,ing tho Y()8sPl~

1 hat lay under the island; from ''" liich vcssnls bouts mi: .. rht, be SL'tH lHlHillg" off for the town just n t the t imo of t lie couunr-ncernent of the levee, TIw Ptll'ty ill the piHzza consisted chietiy of "\YOlllCI1. ~Iadnlllo L'OuYcrture was there like, una yet uulike, the :::\Iargut of former years -cnrploycd, ns usual liusy with her lleedle, lUHl luut herly, (_lolllpl~H'ellt, tenderly Vigi1:11lt HS of 01<1; but with a. iuatrouly grucl) and diguity which evidently arose from a. gr;ttified mind, and not fr0111 external state. Her daughters were beside her, Loth wonderf'ully improved in beauty t though GCllifredc still preserved tho superiority there. She sat a little apart from her mother and sister llcttiug. l\foyse was at her feet, in order to obtain the benefit of all occasionnl glcnlll fr01H tho eyes which were cast down upon her work. His idolatry of her was no surprise to 8.Uy who looked upon her in her beauty, now animated and exalted by tho love which she had avowed, and which was sanctioned by her father and her family, The sisters were dressed nearly nlikct though Ahnec knew well that it would have 1)0011 politic to hnve avoided thus bringing herself into iuunediate comparison ,,,HIt her sister. But Aimee cared not what was t·hought of her fuce, form, or dress. Isaac had alwnvs been satisfied "Tit 11 t 110111. SIlO had coufidetl ill

...

GCllifreac's tnste 1Y}len fhey first tlSSHnH?d their rauk , and it

was least troublesome to (I() S() st.i ll. If .Isnac Sl10111{1 w ish it otherwise when he should. return from France, she would do us he desired. .Moantime, they were dressed hl all csscnfials exactly alike, from the pattern of the Madrus handkerchief thcy wore (according to universal custom) OIl t.heir heads, to the cut of the French-kid shoe. The dress was flu' f'rom resembling the European fashion of the t.imc. No tight lacing; no casing ill whalebone nothing like a hoop. A chcrnisette of the finest cambric appeared within the bodice, aud covered the hOSOll]. The short full sleeves were also of whit o cnmbric. The bodice, nnd short full skirt, were of deep yellow Iudia silk , and the waist was confined with a broad baud of violet-coloured velvet, gaily crnhroidered. The only difference in the dress of the

G

98

THE HOUR AND THE MAN.

sisters was in their ornaments. Ahnee wore heavy ear-drops, and a large necklace and bracelets of amcthyst ; while Genifrcdo wore, suspended from a throat-band of velvet, embroidered like that which bound her waist, a massive plain gold crucifix, lately given her by Moyse, Her ear-rings were hoops of plain gold, and her bracelets again of embroidered velvet, clasped with plain gold. In her might be seen, and in her was seen by the Europeans who attended the levee of that clay, what the neg-ro faco and form may be when seen in t.heir native elimate, unhardened by degradation, undobased by ignorance, unspoiled by oppression all peculiarities of feature softened under the refining influence of mind, and all peculiarities of expression called out in their beauty by the frco exorcise of natural aff'cctions. The nnimated sweetness of the negro countenance is known only to those who havo seen it thus.

Paul 'YRS of t.he part.y, looking very well in tho French uniform, which he wore in honour of his brother on gl·eat occasions, though ho waa far from having' gro·wll warlike on his chango of fortune. His heart was still ill his cot.tage, 01" 011 Lhe sea; and now, as 118 stood leaning against 3 pillar of t,he piazza, his eye was 1110rc busy in watching the fishinjr-hoats in the hay t.hnn in observing what went on within tho house, Tho only thing he liked about state-days '\tHS the hours of idleness they affordod such hours as this, when, lounging in the shade, he could see Moyse happy at the feet of his beloved, and enjoy the soft wind as it breathed past" laden with spicy scents. During such an hour, he almost forgot the restraints of his uniform and of 11is rank.

T h 01'0 was yet another person in the piazza. Seated on its step, but sheltered lrv its liroarl CUY('s, sat Therese lTIOrC bonu-

~ ~

tiful by far t.huu Geni£i'l,<lc 11lOl'C beautiful by far than in her

days of girlho()(l cclr-hrntcd us she had then been throughout the colony. ITer girlishness was gono, except its grace; her sensitiveness wns gone, and (as those lllight think who did not watch the changes of her eye) much of her auimation. Her cariiagc was majestic, her countenance calm, and its beauty, now refined by a life of leisure and the consciousness of rank-sleisure and rank both well employed more imposing than ever. Her husband was now a general in Toussaint's army, When he 'las in the field, Madame Dossnliues remained at home, on their estate Ileal- St. Marc. ,\VI10ll ]10 was in attcudanco 011 tho Corn .. mauder-in-chief, 8110 was over a welcome gnest in 'I'oussaiut's family. Madame L'Ouvorturc loved her as n daughter; and she had endeared herself to tho girls. At this titne, from an accidental circumstance, she "as at the palace without her husband. It 'las evident that she felt quite at home thorc ; for, though she had arrived ouly a fc,v hours before, she ,lid not RI)PC1\l'

99

disposed to converse. As she sat alone, loaning against the base of the pillar, she now and then cast her eyes 011 tho book she held open in her hand, but for tho most part looked ahroad upon tho terraced town, tho bay, or tho shadowy clefts of the rocky island which closed it ill.

The sound of feet and of voices from wi thin increasecl fl·0111 moment to moment. T1IO Cormnanrler-in .. chief had assumed his place, with his aides all either hand; and l)l'cseutly tho room was so nearly filled as to leave no 11101'0 space than was required for the deputations to pass in at one entrance on the south of the apartm en t, appear before the General, and pnss out at tJIC other door. Toussaint stood at the centre of tho north end, beside a table partly covered with papers, and at which sat his secretary. On this table lay his cocked hat. His uniform was blue, with scarlet cape find cuffs, richly embroidered. lie had white trousers, long Hessian hoots, and, ns usual, tho l\:Iadras handkerchief on his head. While ,,~ulking up tho apartment, he had been conversing on business with his officers, and continued to do so, without the loss of n, moment, till, 011 his taking his place, two ushers came up with an account of the parties waiting for admittance, desiring to InlOW" his pleasure as to "who should have precedence.

" The clergy," said 'I'oussaint ; "the first in duty HUlst be first in honour."

In a few 1110111cnts there "US It Ioud nnnonucemcnt of the clergy from the districts of St. Maro, Leoganc, Mirbulais, and so on, through a long enumeration of districts. The priests entered, two and two, a long procession of black gowns. As they collected into a gronp before him, everyone anxiously making way for them, Toussaint crossed Iiis arms upon his breast aud bowed his head low for mauy 1l10ll1Cnt:3. When he looked up again, au expression of true ro \'Cl'CllCO 'las lllJOU his conutcnancc : [nul, in

a toue of earnestness, he ask('~l fot" w"lw,t service they desired to eouunaud him.

Father Antioche, an old priest" assisted hy a brother at least thirty yea.rs youllger, offered sealed papers, which, he said, contained reports frolll the several districts concerning the religious and moral condition of tho iuhabitauts. Toussaint received them, and laid them, with his own hand, upon the table beside him, saying, with much solicitude -

" Do I see rightly in your countenances that you hring gooll news of your flocks, my fathers? "

" It is so," replied the old priest. "Our wishes are fast fulfilling."

"Eight thousand marriages have been celebrated, as will appear in our reports," added the young' priest.

" And in the difficult cases of a plurality of wives," resumed G 2

100

Fu ther Antioche, "there is generally a willingness in the cultivn tors to maintain liberally those who are put away,"

" A nd the children P "

"The children luay be found ill the schools, sit.ting side by side in peace, The quarrels of the children of different mot her« (quarrels often fatal ill tho fields) disappear ill the 8e110018. 'I'ho reports well exhibit the history of our expanding system."

" God be thanked l ' 'I'oussain t uttered in a low voice.

" Under tho religions rule of your excellency," said the young priest, "enforced by so pure all example of piety, the morals of i his colony will be established, and the salvation of its pt:\oplo HCCUljtC( 1."

., Yon," said 'I'oussaint, "the sorvants of Christ" are tho truo rulers of this isluud nnd i ts inhabitants. I tun yonr Sf'T\"HJlt i n g'utlrdillg external order, during a period which you will eHlploy ill establishing your fto('k~ ill the OY('rl:1stillg' wisdom :l1HI pentOo of religion. I hold the inferior office of kef.:piug our enemies in awe, and enahling our people to fi11<1 subsistence and comfort. ~Iy charge is tho soil 011 which, and tho bodies ill which, men live .. You have in charge their souls, ill wlrich lies the future of this world and of t,llc next. You 8I'0 t he true rulers of St ~ DOlllingo; and we how to you as snell."

Every head wus iuuncdintely bowed, and. tho priests went out, amidst the obeisances of the whole assemblage some of the order wondering, 1)c1'11:11)S, whether every mind there was ns sincere in its homajre as that of tho COl111nn.llder-in-chief.

II;,...._

The superintendents of tJIC cultivntors came next negroes

d ressed ill cheek shirrs, white linen jackets aud trousers, niul w ith the usual Madras handkerchief on the head. 'I'hey, too, h.mded in reports; and to thcin also did Toussaint address his questions, with an air of respect almost equal to that with which he had spoken to the priests.

" I gricvQ," said he, , .. that yon cunnot yet fulfil yonI' function a1tog-ether in pence. l\Iy generals aud I 11[lYe done what we call to preserve our fields £1'0111 devastation, and our cultivators from t he dangers and the fears of ambushed foes; but Rign.ud's forces are not yet subdued; and for a while we must impose upon our cultivators the toil of working armed in the field. We are soldiers here," he added, looking round upon his officers, ,. but, I

hope there is not one of us who does not honour t he hoe more t han the gun. How fnr ha ve you been able to repair ill the south-eastern districts the interruption in the Scpteulber plantlng ? "

The superintendent of those districts caine forward, and said t ha.t SOllie planting had been effected in N oveuibcr, the sprouts of which IlO,V looked well. .More planting had been done during the curly part of the present mouth; aud time would show the result,

101

" Good! " said Toussaint. "SollIe of tho finest crops I IlUYO seen have risen from J anua.ry plants, though it were best it were clone in September. How do you report nbout the rats? :,

" The nuisance is still great," replied the head superintendent ; " their- uninterrupted possession of tho fields during the trouble's has made them very powerful. Would t.hat your excellency were as powerful to conquer the rats as the mulattoes ! "

" 'V o have allies," said 'I'oussnint, graycly '" an army 11101'0 powerful than that which I commnnd. \Vhcrc aro the ants ! "

" They have closed t.Jlcir campaign. TIrey el(~ared tho fiel(l~ fur us 111 the auiunui ; Lut they IH1YC diRftppCftrcd."

" For a tiiuc only. While there arc rats, they will reappear." " Anrl when thoro are 110 11101tC rats, we must call ill smne fOl'(~C~ if your excellency knows of such, to make war lIpon the ant .-; ; for they are only a less evi] than tlInt w.-hich thor cure."

" If they were absent" yon would find S0111e worse evil in tlH1l" stead pestilence, perhaps. Teach your children this, if ynil hear thC111 eoinpla iu of nuything to which Providence has giYcll lifo auil an errand muong us, 'I'he cocoa walks at I>laisClncc-are they fenced to the north P "

" Completely. Tho new wood has sprung np from the ashes of the fires, like a mist £1'0111 the lake."

" Arc tho cottages enlarged and divided, as I recouuuouderl P ;, "Unirel'sal1y. Every cottage inhabited by fit family has ]10'V two rOOll1S, at Icast. As your excellency also desired, the cultivatora have spent t·hcir leisure hours hi preparing furuiturc-> £1'0111 bedsteads to baskets. As the reports will explain, there nrc some inventions which it is hoped will 1)0 inspected by YOlll' excellency particularly a veutila tor, to he fixed in the roofs of cottages ; a broad shoe for ,yulkiJlg' Oyer the sa]t marshos : and - ."

"Tlu) cooler,' proJnpf.t~t1 a voi (~o froBl hohinrl.

" Aud a llC1V kind of cooler, 'rhiclt pl_'(1~~~rY0S Iiqnids, and e vr-u moats, for a longer t.imo than filly proviously known t-o the richest planter in tho island. This discovery does great. credit to i JII) sagneit,y of tho labourer who has completed it.')

" I will COllIe and yjC1V it,. I hope to visit 1111 onr cu1tivniol':3 -to verify your reports with illy own cy(\~. At present, 'YO are conrpellcd, like the Ronutns, to go from n ims to the plough, mul from the plough to arms : but" when possib lo, I wish to show that I am not a, negro of the coast, with 111Y eye eyer aln-orul upon the sea, or on foreign lands. . I desire t lUI t· we shou1d make uso of onr O'Y11 menus for our own ,Yelfal'c. E,~eryt]lillg that, is g'ooll shall 1)0 welcomed from abroad as it Ul'rlYCS; hut the Iiberty of the blacks cau he secured only hy the prosperity of their [tgl'i~ cul turc jI ~ ~

" I do not see why not by fl~hC'rirs;,'~ observed Paul, to t};o

102

party in the piazza, as he caught his brother's words. " If Toussaint is not fond of Iisli, he should remember that other people

"

are.

"He means,' said Therese, "that toil, peaceful toil, with its hope, and its due fruit, is best for the blacks. Now, you know, Paul L'Ouverture, that if the fields of tho ocean had required as mnch la1)our as those of the plain, you would never have been a fisherman.'

,;; It is pleasauter on a hot day to dive than to dig; and easier to draw the net for an hour than to cut canes for a clay is it not, uncle? " asked Aimee.

"If the Commander-in-chief thinks toil goocl for us," said Moyse, "\vhy docs he disparage war P Who knows better than he what are the fatigues of a march P and the wearisomeness of an urnbush is greater st ill. Why does he, of all IUCll, dispara go war ? "

" Becauso," said ]\fudulllC, "110 thinks there has heon enough haired and fightiug. I have to put him in mind of his 01Yll glory in war, or he would be always forgetting it except, indeed, when any ono comes f'rom Europe. VVhCll he hears' of Bonaparte, he smiles , and I know he is then glad that he is u soldier too."

" Besides his t,hillkillg that thoro has been too much fight~ iujr," said Aimee, "he wishes t.hat the people should Iahour joyfully ill the yery places whore they used to toil in wretchedlle~s £01- t·IIC whites.'

Therese turned to listen, with fire in ]lcr eyes.

" In order," continued Aimee, "t11ut t11CY lllay lose the sense uf that misery, and beC01l1C friendly towards the whites." rrhel'ese turued lHyny agnin, languidly.

" There are whites now eutoriug," said Panl , "not foreigners, arc they?"

"~N o," said .Madame. "Surely they are Creoles; yes, there is 1\1. Cazo, and 1)1. Hug-onin, aut] 1tl. Charrier, I think these gellt1enlell have all been reinstated in their properties since tho last levee. Hear what they say."

" vVe come," exclaimed aloud M, Caze, the spokesman of the l)al·ty of whito planters ; "'YB come, overwhelmed with mnazeruent, penetrated with gratitude, to lay our thanks at your feet. All was lost. The estates on which we were born, the lands bequeathed to us by our fathers, wore wrenched from our hands, ravaged, destroyed. We and our families fled some to the rn ounta ill s SOll10 to the woods and 1113.11Y to foreign lands. Your voice reached us, inviting us to our homes. We trusted that voice; wo find our lands restored to us, our homes secure, and the passions of war stilled, like this atmosphere after the storms of December. And to you do we owe all to you,