Show AFITra r UlSIANA J BY MARY EEVEREUX MTU ILLUSTRATIONS BY DON C WILSON c q pigs pa Iy LKk 4tvrt xd cO1AJ 3y All Ojy 1 Wena J CHAPTER XX The following day Lafltte accompanied accom-panied by Pierre and Nato mado a hasty trip to Shell Island where ho found all as he had left it and received re-ceived a hearty welcome from all his followers Hut when early la 1 the afternoon aft-ernoon ho returned to Grande Terre It was to a scene of great excitement An English l warship brig was to bo seen In the offing and a boat from It t hearing a white Hag was approach lag the Island Lafltte went himself in a boat 10 meet the stranger which as he saw I through a glass held besides Its crew two officers In the English naval nav-al uniform I I The officers Introduced themselves as Capts Lockycr and McVlHams of His Majestys navy bearers of a message mes-sage from Col Nicholls commander of tho forces In Florida to Capt Jean La fltte Commandant at Baratarla I will lake the message gentlemen gentle-men said Lafltto when they had stated stat-ed their errand as It Is not quite possible that you will be permitted to land on the Island At this the officers conferred with each other In low tones then the one Who had Introduced himself as Captain Cap-tain Lockycr and who was the senior of the two addressed himself to La UtteWo Wo cannot do this Our orders are to see Capt Lafltto himself and to place tho message In his hands Very well gentlemen bo It so replied re-plied Lafltte But In that case I must Insist for your own welfare that you go ashore In my boat leaving your own to lie off tho Island Tho Englishmen consented to this and tho boats were brought side by side so that the officers might board the Baratnrlan craft Tho outlaws wondering and excited and with arms ready for use stood watching tho returning boat wherein the hated English uniforms showed In following place and I Invite yon on the Your property shall bo guaran terms teed to you and your persons protected protect-ed In return for which I aslt you to against Spain or cease nil hostilities SpainUlor the allies of Great Britain j your ships under the orders and vessels to bo placed officer on this of the commanding tiers commander station until your chiefs pleasure Is known but I guarantee guar-antee their value In all events a cops of I herewith enclose you proclamation to tho Inhabitants of Louisiana my which will I think point Intentions of out to you the honorable useful my government You may bo a therefore Instrument forwarding them determine lose no tine < fore If you Should any Inhabitants be Inclined to volunteer thefr services Into His mill Majestys forces either naval or service they will be tart for limited received and If any British subject being at Baratnrla wishes to return to his native country he will on joining His Majestys service receive a free pardon When he finished reading which he had done with rapidity suggestive of carelessness Lafltte refolded the papers placed them In their cover and slipped the package Inside his coat Capt Lockyer was the first to speak Now Capt Lafitte what have you to say to us that we may report to Col Nicholls He spoke cheerfully and confidently as If there could be no doubt of La fittos ready acquiescence In the proposal pro-posal Do these papers cover the entire matter demanded Lafitte ignoring the question Not altogether began Capt Me Williams then ho paused and looked at Lockyer as If preferring that the latter should explain This he did by enlarging upon the manifest and great advantages to result re-sult for the Baratarlan commandant and his followers by acceding to the rr i = r I a I RI I I I III Y I t I 11t I I c I f I Are we to understand sir that this Is your decision I seeming friendliness with their own fellows and leader But when Lafitto stepped ashore ho bade them disperse and motioned his guests to precede him up tho pathway leading from tho beach They lost no tlmo In doing this scrutinized scru-tinized keenly by tho resentful and still puzzled outlaws who when the scarlet uniforms disappeared inside the fort with Lafitte began muttering among themselves as to tho meaning of this strange proceeding Lafitte going to a buffet at one end 01 the room took from It several cut glass decanters and glasses which together to-gether with a largo silver box filled with cigars ho placed upon tho table Permit me to offer you a glass of wine or brandy gentlemen he said Then you may proceed to talk for 1 am at your service I am Jean Lafitte the commandant such I may bo calledat Baratarla Both officers stared at him In undisguised undis-guised amazement Then they again looked at one another but now as If for mutual comfort whllo they began to mumble confused apologies Proceed Lafitte repeated paying no heed to their discomfiture What do you want with me what can any English colonel leave to say to Jean Lafltto of Louisiana that Jean Lafittc can care to hear Leaning back in his chair ho folded his arms and looked steadily at the two men Capt Lockyer rose and drawing from the pocket of his coat a sealed package laid It upon tho table near whero Laflttes arm was resting There said Capt Lockyer resum ing his seat Is a most important communication Intrusted to us by Col Nlcholls for conveyance to your hands Wo have orders to await your answer Tho paper ran as follows I have arrived In the Florldas for tho purpose of annoying the only ene x my Great Britain has In tho world as Franco and England aro now friends I call on you with your bravo followers fol-lowers to enter Into the service of Great Britain In which you shall havQ the grado of a captain lands will bo given to 011 all In you proportion to your respective ranks on peace taking proposition entering the service of His Britannic Majesty and placing all their vessels under the control of the English Ho added with much impressiveness im-pressiveness that besides tho rank of captain In the British navy ho was authorized 1 to promise Lafitto the sum of thirty thousand dollars In gold Lafitte Instead of replying Walked to the fireplace and standing beneath tho pictured face of his Idol Napoleon whose eyes seemed to be regarding the group with cold Intelligence looked down at the two seated men His hands were clasped behind him and his eyes held a glitter that was menac ing Gentlemen ho said I agree with you in saying that tho matter Is a most Important one for me as well as for yourselvesso Important to mo that I cannot decide It as speedily as you seem to expect but must have a few hours In which to give it proper consideration Both officers looked annoyed and Capt McWIlliams expostulated How can you possibly need to re fleet upon a proposal promising so much for you in tho way of wealth and position as against an enemy who has proscribed you and branded you with infamy It Is very Important that wo lose no tlmo In pushing the operations already planned against lower Louisi I ana We must act at onco and as soon as we obtain possession here our army will poneiato Into the upper country to make a junction with our I forces from Canada It would appear said Lafitte as ho threw the remnant of his cigar Into I the fireplace and took another from the box that you count Y upon no Pos sible failure In your plans Failure repeated Capt Lockyer his face glowing with confidence in deed no Our plan of I campaign Is i perfected and we are certain of sue I cess Regarding our chances I wm tell you that we expect excellent re sults from an insurrection of the slaves to whom we shall offer freedom as the reward for aiding Great alt Brit olnTho Tho cold Indifference of Laflttes taco turned to sudden sternness nap you know anything of the negro wotmimi nature and how H would show itself = under such circumstances mantled adding before they u swer him I dof and I waru 7 what you propose doing equivalent to unchalulnc lhe1 of hell Tho Englishmen looked a l able but Lockyer muttered m 10 about tho fortunes of war war au Williams said But the cruen r negroes can add little nCier tl punishment If I has been detld d b i filet upon New Orleans The to 1 to This be given announcement over to fire and made nfl something of a dramatic t air t mild to make seem the expected lisp upon Lafltto for ho passed II by said somewhat impntiently and11 unmistakable decision I repeal I cannot answer you before mo moat and such being tho case I ttml most quest that you remain here + G night The two officers had risen and stood before him their faces Shur mingled consternation and sneer Are we to understand sir thai is your decision demanded Lockyer excitedly You are unless you See at 10 up all further negotiations with In case you accept what I sugg answered Lafltte you will send IJi der for your crew to return to ther and to come for you at noon in row Tho tone of quiet authority acs panylng the words appeared to let no alternative for the British ouT who could only nod their assent I dcntly deeming It more diplomatic check tho anger showing In lh f faces Lafltto smiled and moved tOI tho door Now I must leave you but It place you In the caro of Sclpld faithful old servant who will alit to your comfort They bowed stiffly and he went closing the door after him and th officers heard him lock it and rem the tho key h Sclplo soon appeared with a light 1 od or exs lamp This he placed upon the tab h u a sand s-and taking notice of those preset ICOaa or proceeded to work with the resi dug that in a few minutes a cheery li ii 1resent was blazing And as tho Englislmei heats am drew their chairs to the hearth 0 bay of old negro closed nnd barred the hea o1 Sci shutters besides placing for the tan roriag ti t-an iron bar across tho already lock oaken sh doorWo Osh tun Wo seem to bo prisoners ralhe ealth ppr than guests remarked Capt Me1 are Hams in a tone too guarded for hi h1 wan words to reach the partially deal tts aklira 1 of Soplo who was busy at the tab It is a cheap price to pay after ilj 4 rise Thos exl If It results in bringing him over I cl us said Lockyer in the same lo1 the tone Those hands of his and hi manner tho whole cut of his Jib area em suggest tho idea of his being quite abl bf his to hand a lady her fan with the gut hto alt of a courtier but they also suggest hg a me at least his ability to clutch of enemy by the throat and hurl him are wli a cliff or make him walk the plank a rose To bo continued b09e |