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Show fAJETFTJE $f J BY (MjARY gEVEREUX 1 WTM fLLUSn?ATION3 BY DON C. WILSON 6tl fitotnr&J CHAPTER XX. Tho following day, Lnflttc, accompanied accom-panied by Pierre and Nnto, mado a hasty trip to Shell Island, whoro ho found all ns he had left It, and received re-ceived a hearty wolcomo from all his followers. But when, early In tho afternoon, aft-ernoon, ho returned to Grande Torre, It was to a scene of great excitement. An English warship a brig was to bo seen In tho offing, nnd a boat from It, bearing a whlto flag, was approaching approach-ing tho islnnd. Lafltto went himself In n boat to meet tho stranger, which as ho .saw through a glass hold, besides Its crow, two officers In tho English naval nav-al uniform. Tho officers Introduced themselves ns Copts. Lockyer nnd McWIIIInms, of Ills Majesty's nnvy, bearers of a mcs-sago mcs-sago from Col. Nlcholls, commander of tho forcos In Florldn, to Capt. Jean La-fltte, La-fltte, "Commandant at Barntarla." "I will take the message, gontlo-mon," gontlo-mon," said Lnfltte, when they had stnt-cd stnt-cd their errand, "as It is not qulto .posslblo that you will bo permitted to land on tho Islnnd." At this tho officers conferred with each other In low tones; then tho ono who had lntrodu;d himself ns Captain Cap-tain Lockyer, nnd who wns tho senior of tho two, addressed himself ,to Lnfltte. Ln-fltte. 'Wo cannot do this. Our orders nro to seo Cnpt. Lafltto himself, nnd to plnco tho message In his hnnds." "Very well, gentlemen; bo It so," replied re-plied Lafltto. "But In that caso I must Insist, for your own welfnrc, that you go ashoro In my bont. leaving your own to Ho off tho island." Tho Engllshmon consented to this, nnd tho boats wero brought sldo by side, bo that tho officers might board tho Baratarlan crnft. Tho outlaws, wondering nnd excited, nnd with nrms ready for use, stood watching tho returning boat, wherein tho hated English uniforms showed In I . ,.,. i.-. 1 U 4 II I "Are we to understand, sir, that this Is your decision?" scorning friendliness with their own follows and lcador. But when Lafltto stepped ashore, ho bado them disperse, and motioned his guests to prcccdo htm up tho pathway leading from tho boach. They lost no tlmo In doing this, scrutinized scru-tinized keenly by tho rcsontful nnd still puzzled outlaws, who, when tho scarlet uniforms disappeared Insldo tho fort with Lnflttc, began muttering among themselves as to tho moaning of this strango proceeding. Lafltto, going to a buffet ut ono end oi tho room, took from It several cut-glass cut-glass decanters and glasses, which, together to-gether with a Inrgo sliver box filled with cigars, ho placed upon tho tnblc, "Permit mo to offer you n glass of wlno, or brandy, gentlemen," ho snld. "Then you may proceed to talk, for 1 nm nt your so'rvlco. I am Jeau Lafltto, tho 'commnndnnt' If such I may bo called at Daratarin." Both offlcors stared nt him In undisguised undis-guised amazement. Then they agnlu looked nt ono another, hut now ns If for mutunl comfort, whllo thoy bogan to mumblo confused apologies, "Proceed," Lafltto repeated, paying no hoed to tholr dtscomflturo. "What do you want with mo what can any English colonol havo to sny to Jean Latltto of Louisiana that Jean Lafltto can caro to hoar?" Leaning back In his chair, ho foldod his arms, and looked steadily at tho two men. Capt, Lockyor roso, and drawing from tho pocket of his coat a sealed package, latd It upon tho tablo, near whero Lafltto's arm was resting. "There," sold Capt. Lockyor, resuming resum-ing his seat, "Is n most important communication, Intrusted to us by Col. Nlcholls, for convoyanco to your hands. Wo havo ordors to nwalt your nnswor." Tho papor ran as follows: "I havo arrived In tho Florldns for tho purposo of annoying tho only ono-my ono-my Great Britain has In tho world, as Franco nnd England are now friends, "I call on you, with your bravo followers, fol-lowers, to enter Into tho servlco of Groat Britain, In which you shall havo tho grado of a captain; lands will bo glvon to you all, In proportion to your respective ranks, on peaco taking plncc, and I Invito you on tho following terms: Your property shnll bo guaranteed guaran-teed to you, nnd your persons protected, protect-ed, In return for which I ask you to cease nil hostilities against Spain, or tho nlllcs of Great Britain; your ships and vessels to bo placed under tho orders or-ders of tho commanding officer on this station, until your commnndcr-ln-chief's plcnsuro Is known; hut 1 guar-nntoo guar-nntoo their valuo In nil events. "I herewith enclose you n copy of my proclamation to tho Inhabitants of Loulslnna, which will, I think, point out to you tho honorablo Intentions of my government. You mny bo n useful Instrument In forwarding them; therefore, there-fore, If yon determine, loso no time." "Should nny inhabitants he Inclined to volunteer tholr services Into His Majesty's forces, cither naval or military, mili-tary, for limited service, they will bo received; and If any British subject,, being nt Baratarln, wishes to return to his nativo country, ho will, on Joining His Mnjesty's servlco, rccclvo a free pnrdon." When ho finished reading, which ho had done with n rapidity suggestlvo of cnrolcssncss, Lafltto refolded the pnpers, placed thorn in their cover, and slipped tho packago Insldo his coat. Capt. Lockyer wns tho first to speak. "Now, Capt. Lafltto, what havo you to say to ub, that wo may report to Col. Nlcholls?" Ho spoke cheerfully and confidently, ns If thero could bo no doubt of Lafltto's La-fltto's ready acqulcsconco In tho proposal. pro-posal. "Do thoso papers cover tho cntlro mnttcr?" demnnded Lafltto, Ignoring tho question. "Not altogether," began Capt. Mc-Wlllinms; Mc-Wlllinms; then ho paused and looked nt Lockyer, ns If preferring that tho latter should explain. This ho did by enlarging upon tho manifest nnd grent advantages to ro-Biilt ro-Biilt for tho "Baratarlan commandant" nnd his followers by needling to tho proposition, entorlng tho service of Hln Britannic Mnjcsty, and placing nil tholr vesselH under tho control of tho English. Ho added, with much lm-pressivenoss, lm-pressivenoss, that, besides tho rank of captain In tho British nnvy, ho was nuthorlzod to promlso Lafltto tho sum of thirty thousand dollaro In gold. Lafltto, InBtend of replying, walked to tho flroplaco, and standing beneath tho pictured faco of his Idol, Napoleon, whoso eyes seemed to bo rognrdlng tho group with cold Intolllgoncu, looked down nt tho two seated men. His hands wero clnspod behind him, nnd his eyes hold a glitter that was monnc-ir.g. monnc-ir.g. "aontlomcn," ho snld, "I ngroo with you In saying that tho mattor Is n most Importnnt ono, for mo, ns woll ns for yoursolvos so Importnnt to mo thnt I cannot decide It ns speedily ns you soom to expect, but must havo n few hours In which to glvo It proper consideration." Both offlcors looked nnnoyed, nnd Capt. McWIlIlams expostulated. "How can you possibly need to re-lloct re-lloct upon n proposal promising so much for you In tho wny of wealth nnd position, ns ngalnst nn enemy who has proscribed you, and branded you with Infnmy? It Is vory Important that wo loso no tlmo In pushing tho operations nlready planned against lower Loulslnna. Loulsl-nna. Wo must act at onco; and ns soon as wo obtain possession here, our army will ponorirato Into tho upper country, to mako a Junction with our forcos from Canada." "It would appear," said Lnfltte, as ho throw tho romnant of his cigar into tho flroplaco and took another from the box, "that you count upon no posslblo pos-slblo fnlluro In your plans." "Fallurol" ropentod Capt. Lockyor, his fnco glowing with confldonco. "Indeed, "In-deed, no. Our plan of campaign Is perfectod, nnd wo nro certain of sue-coss. sue-coss. Regarding our chances, I will toll you that wo oxpoct excollnnt results re-sults from an insurrection of tho slaves, to whom wo shall offor freedom ns tho reward for nldlng Great Britain." Brit-ain." Tho cold Indlfforonco of Lafltto's fnco turned to sudden sternness. "Do you know anything of tho negro nnture, nnd how it would show Itself under such circumstances?" he de- B manded, adding, bcfoYo ihey could an B swer htm, "I do; nnd I warn you thai B what you propose doing would be BBB oqulvnlcnt to unchaining tho demon BBB of BBB Tho Englishmen looked uncomfort- B ablo; but Lockyor muttered something BH about "tho fortunes of war," and Mc- BBB Wlllinms snld: "But the cruelty of the B negroes can odd little, after all, to tho BBB punishment It has been decided to In- B fllct upon New Orleans, Tho city Is 1 to be given over to flro and pillage." BBB Thin announcement, mado with B something of a dramatic air, did not seem to mako tho oxpected Impression BBJJ upon Lafltto; for ho passed It by, ond BBJJ snld, somewhat Impatiently, and with BB1 unmlstnknblo decision, "( repeat that I ennnot answer you before morning; BBJJ and such being tho case, I must ro- BBJJ quest that you remain hero over BBI ,BHJ Tho two officers had risen, and now stood beforo him, tholr faces showing B mlnglod consternation nnd nngcr. "Are we to understand, sir, that this BBJj Is your decision?" demanded Capt. Lockyer excitedly. BBJ "You arc, unless you see fit to give up nil further regotlatlons with mc. In enso you accept what I suggest," BBJ answered Lafltto, "you will send an op dor for your crow to return to tho brig, nnd to como for you at noon to-raor- BBJ BBJ Tho tono or quiet authority accom- BJB pnnylng the words nppcarcd to lcavo BBJ no alternative for the British olllcers, who could only nod their assent, cvl-dontly cvl-dontly deeming It more (Mplomatlc to check tho nngcr showing In their BBJ Lafltto smiled, and moved townrd B tho door. BBJ "Now I must leave you; but I will placo you In tho caro of Sclplo, a faithful old servant, who will nttend BBJ to your comfort." BBJ They bowed stlflly, and ho wont out, closing tho door nftor him; and tho BJ officers heard him lock It, nnd removo BBJ tho key. BBJ Sclplo soon nppcarcd with a lighted lamp. This ho placed upon tho tablo, B and, taking notlco of thoso prosont, proceeded to work, with tho result' BBJ that, In a fow minutes, a cheery flro BBJ wns blazing. And, ns tho Engllshmon BBJ drew tholr chairs to tho hearth', the BBJ old negro closed and barred the heavy shutters, besides placing for tho night BBJ an Iron bar across tho already lockod BBJ door. BBJ "Wo socm to bo prisoners, rather BBJ than guests," remarked Capt. McWIl- BBJ Hams, in a tono too gunrded for his B words to reach tho partially deaf cars BBJ of Sclplo, who was busy at tho table. BBJ "It is n cheap prlco to pay, after all, B It It results In bringing him over to BB us," said Lockyer, In tho same low BBJ tono. "Thoso hnnds of his, and hia BB manner, tho wholo 'cut of hia Jib,' BB suggest tho Idea of his bolng quite able B to hand a lady her fan with tho grace BBJ of a courtier; Ink thoy also suggest to BBJ mo, at least, his ability to clutch nn B cnomy by tho throat and hurl him ovor B n cliff, or mnko him walk tho plank." BB (To bo continued.) BBJ |
