OCR Text |
Show J BY jMjARY gEVEREUX I . 1 WTTH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DON C. WILSON , CP&rtst, &03, by lift. Oronn t Oyv&pd J CHAPTER XXIX. W Less than a week later, one early .afternoon, the members of the household house-hold at La Tcte des Eaux were startled start-led by the booming of cannon In tho 'direction of Lake Borgne. - What had happened was this: An English fleet, with twelvo hundred men, had, with the Intention of throwing throw-ing an attacking force across Lakes Botgne and Pontchnrtaln, sailed Into Inko Uorgne and opened an attack upon up-on the Americans, whoso presenco was a surprise to tho enemy, as Capt. Lockycr, commanding tho latter, had ( understood that this, point was de fenseless. A flerco battle followed, resulting In a partial victory for th'o English, who were now musters of Lako Borgne. It was the Shaplra who, late In tho afternoon, bi ought this news to Ia Tete des Eaux. Tho house was soon In a bustlo of preparation, tho Inmates packing hastily has-tily the few things they were to take with them In their (light, and conceal-'lng conceal-'lng such property ns would bo likely to attract thieving bands among tho enemy, who would, with llttlo doubt, visit the plantation, as Shaplra reported report-ed tho woods about Lako Dorgno to bo refilled with British soldlcrsi .1 Madame Rlefet, when not absorbed by other matters, did not hesitate to express her reluctance toward accepting accept-ing tho assistance of this swarthy, brlgandlsh-looklng man, whom she had never beforo seen, and whoso .very existence had been unknown to Tier. "I know something of him," spoko ,'up Mademoiselle Rose. "Ho Is tho '.man of whom grandpero rented Ka-nuahann. Ka-nuahann. Didn't you know It?" , "Yes," Lazallo added, beforo Mad-urrio Mad-urrio Rlefet had time to frame a fitting leply, "and wo have seen him many times about tho woods here. Rose land I once saw Captain Jean talking 'with him; and I think he Is very obllg-'lng." obllg-'lng." "But all this he tells us of a cave, - -where wo can hide, right here on tho plantation, yet which no ono has over heard of beforo, and no ono, oxcopt-lng oxcopt-lng Captain Jean and himself, seems to know nnythlng about, sounds very strange and Incredible Did your grandpero know of thlB cavo, Mlg-nonDa?" Mlg-nonDa?" "I do not know, but I think not. I novcr heard of such a thing. Vet, madame, It surely Is safer to trust this man, who tells us that Captain Jean sent him, than to stay hero and risk a visit from those dreadful soldiers." "Wo daro not stay, and so we, must .trust him," said Madamo, with a weak Mttempt at resolution, as sho slid a .Jewel-box Into tho bundlo Violet was preparing to fasten. Old Zoney had como over from ' Knnauhana, having Insisted upon being be-ing tnken away with hor beloved young mlstress;and now sho entered tho room to nnnounco that Captain Jean was below stairs. Never had his arrival at tho plantation planta-tion been so welcome as now. Mod-nrao Mod-nrao Rlefet, catching up hor out-of-door wraps from tho bed, ordorcd that tho various bundles bo brought down-stolrs; down-stolrs; for tho phlegmatic Barbo had finished tying up tho last ono ns Chloo handed Senorlta Lazallo tho laco ticnrf for her head, while- Ma'am Brig-Ida Brig-Ida was fastening tho long cloak sho had Insisted that hor nursling should wear. "You may feel yourself fortunato, ! Madamo ntefet, that you aro ablo to leave here by daylight, and not, llko somo people I know, bo roused from tleep to find yourself a prisoner In English hands," snld Lafltto, as thoy Joined him on tho stn'rway. As they wero descending tho stairs, he called to Shaplra, who was stand ing on tho veranda, and then hurry-. hurry-. jjkiK down, gavo tho latter somo In-"ructions In-"ructions which tho others did not, hear ns thoy passed out of tho house , and faced tho slaves, now huddled In- ;j to a terrified mnss, with their focos I full of despairing oxpectancy. Somo of tho women began lamenting lament-ing wildly when thoy found that thoy ! wsro not to go away. But Lafltto, In his usual authoritative fashion, quieted quiet-ed tho hubbub, and ordorod Shaplra to tako them to tho Colonneh, which as ho now decided was not to bo i used ns a hldlng-placo for thoso whom ho himself had, go unoxpectedly, been nble to nFSl' One of his owr craft, commanded by Baptlstlne, was tying off tho Owl's Point, awaiting tho signal which would announce tho coming of Lafltto, who, bent upon a private mission In tho neighborhood, hnd not reckoned upon tho present denouement. But now, In view of all tho circumstances, circum-stances, ho considered this, tho boat, a more desirable means for conveying tho ladles directly to Shell Island, whoro now were only old Sclplo, Juniper Ju-niper and tho boy, Nato. Wnltlng therefore until ho saw Shaplra Sha-plra start for the Colonneh, followed by tho now quiet slaves, Lafltto, who had meantlmo explained his plnn to his own charges, told them to follow him, and set out hurriedly In nn opposite op-posite direction from that tnken by Shaplra and his dusky retinue. The forest wns darkening with late afternoon shadows as the fleeing party par-ty followed, In comparative sllcnco, tho tall form that led them. At length tho party emerged from the deeper shadows of their wooded way, and camo Into n cleared space, whero tho knoll known as "Tho Owl's Point" projected Into tho bayou; and taking here, Lafltto looked about him, whllo the others' stood grouped a llttlo dlstanco away, awaiting quietly his movements. But beforo ho could glvo tho signal to Baptlstlno, whoso craft was concealed con-cealed around tho bend of tho btj ou, two men burst from tho cover of a thicket opposlto Laflttc, a gun was lovcled at his breast, and a hoarse voice shouted, "Surrender, you cursed plrato!" Roso do Cazcncau, with a wild cry, rushed between tho weapon and Lafltto, La-fltto, while Barbo, who had been staring star-ing as though ho wero a ghost at tho holder of tho gun, echoed tho shriek of her mistress. "Do not do not shoot your child I" sho screamed; and, at her words, old Zeney, who stoad nearest tho stranger, strang-er, gavo him ono searching look, and rushed In turn between her mistress "Surrender, you cursed pirate!" and tho gun, Just as It shot out a Jet of flame. A second report mingled so closely with tho first as to make them seom-but seom-but ono; and Zonoy, with tho man who had shot her, fell to tho ground. All had happened bo quickly that Lafltte, who wns, for an Instant, unnerved un-nerved by Roso do Cazencau's effort to savo him, had scarcely tlrao to draw a pistol before his unknown assailant as-sailant fell, as If from tho dlschargo of his own weapon, which had killed Zonoy. In Iholr surprlso and fright, and by reason of tho confusion, no ono except Lafltto had comprehended any meaning mean-ing In tho words which followed tho wild cry of Barbo, who now stood sobbing sob-bing hysterically, with her arms around her half-swooning nilstross, whllo Lazallo, with dilating nostrils and blazing oyes, sought to release herself from Madnmo Itlofet. Baptlstlno, who had heard tho shots, reached tho shoro hi a small boat pullod by some of his crow, soon nftor Shaplra appeared at tho edgo of tho thick woods from whenco had como tho bullet that had killed Zonoy's slay-or. slay-or. Tho English sailor, at Lafltto's com-mnnd, com-mnnd, now surrendered his nrms to Shaplra, and was promlspd freedom, In exchange for a truthful statement of tho motive which brought his companion com-panion and himself to tho spot. Ho said that tho othor man had boon unknown to him until thnt samo morning; morn-ing; and all ho now know of him was that ho was a scout, picked up from among tho IndlanB, and bought to ecrvo tho English. Capt. Lockyer, who was In command of tho English fleet upon Lako Borgno, having learned that Lafltto was in that vicinity, vicin-ity, had selected this Bcout to find and capturo tho man upon whom ho longed to oxecuto personal vongoanco. Ills orders had been to bring Lafltto 10 him, alive, If possible, and dead, rather than not at all; and tho sailor, leaving been ono of tho crow who rowed tho British officers to thulr mortifying conforenco at Grundo Torro, had been sent with tho scout In order to Identify Lnfltto. Such was tho end of tho man in whom Barbo had recognized tho brilliant bril-liant ofneor of former years rocog-nlzod, rocog-nlzod, despite tho shock of grizzled hair, nnd tho changes wrought by tlmo nnd a lawless Ufa In tho faco and form that had tempted the now year's elopement, Mcautlmc, Baptlstlno hnd landed; and leaving his men In tho bout, ho came lolsurely to where Lnfltto was questioning tho English sailor. The Bntatarlan's Ehrowd eyes had glanced over tho scene; and tho fallen bodies, tho group of excited women all that ho saw, told his alert perceptions what had presumably taken place, whllo tho sight of his commnnder, standing unharmed, nnd Shaplrn's attitude, at-titude, ns ho leaned upon his gun, assured as-sured htm that the danger, suoh as It might havo been, wns past. Hence his nonchalant, strolling gait to whero Lafltto stood. Tho latter saw him at onco, and Interrupted In-terrupted himself to bid Shaplra seo that tho sailor nwnlted his further orders. or-ders. Then drawing Baptlstlno nHldo, ho gavo him Instructions In regard to placing tho Indies and their mnlds aboard his boat. "But It seems very dreadful to leavo poor Zcney lying there," said Roe, with a tearful backward look, as Lafltto La-fltto was assisting her Into tho smnll boat. "It Is not posslblo to do otherwise child," ho answered gently, tightening his pressuro upon tho small hand ho was holding. "All thnt can bo done for her now, I will seo Is dono beforo I Join you. Will you not trust mo to do that?" Tho expression of tho tear-stained oyes raised to meet his look answered him without tho need of speech. "You nre not coming with us?" sho began, when Mndnmo Itlofet Interrupted Inter-rupted her with a shrill "Not coming with us! Oh, Capt. Lafltte, wo cannot can-not go without you. And theso strnngo men I Indeed" now angrily "wo will not!" Ho had put Roso aboard tho boat, and turned to assist Lazalle, whllo ho answered Madamo Rlcfet's outburst calmly, although there was ovldonco of Impatience held In 'check. "I Intend to escort you personally to Shell Island, madamo; but It Is host that you all go aboard tho boat ray captain hero has waiting around tho point. Ho will tako you to It, and then return for mo, as I havo a duty hero which I cannot very well perform until you nnd tho other ladles have gone. Thero may bo other Englishmen English-men prowling In tho vicinity; and tho sound of the firing may bring them this way. If this should happen, I can manage matters to far better advantage ad-vantage by knowing that you aro out of harm's way " Madamo mado no reply, but permitted permit-ted him to placo her In the boat. Ma'mam Brlglda followed her, Violet coming last; and tho sailors pushed off as Baptlstlno sprang aboard. "Why docs not Barbe como with us?" Madamo Rlefet demanded abruptly, ab-ruptly, as sho saw tho French woman walk to whero Shaplra was bonding over, tho body of Zonoy, intending as ordered by Lafltte to carry It Into tho woods for burial. Lafltto answered from tho shore, "Barbo will como with mo; thero Is something I wish hor to do, Madamo Rlefet, If you will kindly permit." Ho had, unnoticed by tho othors, laid n detaining hand on Barbo's arm, and whispered, "I wish to speak with you; wait hero until tho boat returns." Sho gavo no sign of having heard him, but stood silently, until, as Violet was following Brlglda Into tho boat, eho turned and walkod over to, whero lay tho dead. (To bo continued.) |