The Hour and the Man, An Historical Romance

by Harriet Martineau

  CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

  A FEAT.

  General Brunet brought with him no more than his allotted twentysoldiers, and a secretary. Christophe ascertained to his ownsatisfaction, and let the household know, that not another Frenchsoldier breathed within a circuit of some miles, when the evening closedin; so that the ladies threw off constraint and fear together as the twogenerals, with their secretaries, retired to the library, after coffee.

  Placide had been with Christophe all day, and was the means by which thehousehold had been assured of the tranquillity of the neighbourhood. Hewas of the patrol which was to watch the roads during the night. Itseemed improbable, however, that, of all nights, that should be chosenfor an assault when the Ouvertures must be particularly roused toobservation, and when a French general was in their hands. Of allnights, this was probably the safest; yet Placide, glad, perhaps, of anexcuse to keep out of the way of a guest from Paris, chose to mountguard with Christophe.

  Denis was permitted to be in the library, as the business was notprivate, and, to one who knew the country as well as he did, veryentertaining. For a time he found it so, while all the five werestooping over the maps, and his father was explaining the nature of thelocalities, and the interests of the inhabitants, and while wordsdropped from General Brunet which gave an insight into that object ofDenis's strong curiosity--the French encampment on Tortuga. When all ofthis kind had been said, and the conversation turned upon points ofmilitary science or management, which he did not care about, Denis drewoff to the window, and thence into the balcony, where he looked out uponthe night--vainly, for it was cloudy, and there was yet no moon. Theair was cool and pleasant, however, and he remained leaning over thebalcony, revolving what he had heard, and picturing to himself thelittle court of Madame Leclerc--so near, and yet out of his reach.While thus absorbed, it is probable that some distant voice of songinstigated him to sing also. Like his race generally, Denis was almostalways singing; always when alone and meditative. It is probable thatsome notes of the air sung by those who looked to August for freedom--sung by the whole negro population--now caught his ear; for he began,hardly to sing, but to murmur this popular air. The words were notheard within; and it would not have mattered if they had been; for thewords were in the negro language. But the air was, by this time,intelligible enough to the invaders. In the interest of conversation,nothing escaped the eye of Toussaint. He saw an exchange of glancesbetween General Brunet and his secretary, and a half smile on the faceof each which he did not like.

  He thought it best to take no notice; but, far from leaving off, Denissang louder as he sank deeper into reverie. Monsieur Pascal becameaware of some embarrassment, and of its cause.

  "Denis, you disturb us," he called out from the table.

  They heard no more of Denis; and their business proceeded. Vexed,partly with himself, and partly at having been rebuked in GeneralBrunet's hearing, he went round the house by the balcony, and thence tothe upper gallery, which commanded the finest sea view in the day-time,and the freshest sea breezes at night. There, in a somewhat perversemood, he sang for his own pleasure the air which he had been checked forsinging unconsciously. He remained there a long while--he did not knowhow long--till the moon rose, when he remembered that it must bemidnight. As no one had called him, he supposed that the party in thelibrary were still in consultation.

  As his eye rested on the bay, while he was considering whether he mustnot go in, he perceived something dark lying on the waters between theisland and the shore. As he strained his sight, and as the waned moonrose higher, he discovered that it was a ship. It was strange. No shipever had business there; though he had heard that there was a deepchannel, and good anchorage in that little bay. It was very strange.But something stranger still soon met his ear--sounds, first odd, thenpainful--horrible. There was some bustle below--on the beach, withinthe little gate--he thought even on the lawn. It was a scuffle; therewas a stifled cry. He feared the guard were disarmed and gagged--attacked on the side of the sea, where no one dreamed of an assault, andwhere there was no Christophe to help. Denis knew, however, how toreach Christophe. He did the right thing. Lest his purpose should beprevented if he entered the house, he clambered up the roof to itsridge, and swung the heavy alarm-bell. Its irregular clang banishedsleep in a moment from a circuit of many miles. It not only startledthe ladies of the family from their beds; but every fisherman rushedfrom his hut upon the shore. Christophe and Placide were galloping toPongaudin almost before they had drawn a breath. Every beast stirred inits lair; and every bird rustled in its roost. Rapid, however, as wasthe spread of sound, it was too late to save L'Ouverture.

  L'Ouverture himself had but a few moments of uncertainty to endure. Inthe midst of earnest conversation, suspicious sounds were heard. Thetwo Frenchmen rushed to the door of the library, and Monsieur Pascal tothe balcony. Monsieur Pascal re-entered in an instant, saying--

  "The house is surrounded--the lawn is crowded. Make no resistance, andthey may spare your life."

  "Hark! The bell! There is hope," said Toussaint. "No resistance! butlet us gain time."

  The door was burst open, and with General Brunet entered a personagewhom he introduced as Admiral Ferrari, followed by a file of grenadiers.

  "What can be your errand at this hour?" asked Toussaint.

  "I have orders from the Captain-General to arrest you," replied AdmiralFerrari. "Your guards are disarmed and bound. Our troops areeverywhere. You are dead if you resist. Deliver up your sword!"

  "I shall not resist such a force as you have thought it necessary tobring against me," replied Toussaint, handing his sword to the admiral."Am I to be a prisoner here, in my own house?"

  "No, indeed! I have orders to convey you and your family to CapFrancais. No delay! To the boats this moment! You will find yourfamily on board the frigate, or on the way to it."

  "Do what you will with me; but Madame L'Ouverture is in weak health.Suffer her and my children to remain at home."

  "Lose no more time. General. March! or we must carry you."

  Voices of lamentation and of passion were heard in the corridor, whichquickened L'Ouverture's movements more than threats or insults couldhave done. He left the library, and found the ladies of the householdin the corridor--Margot weeping and trembling, and Genifrede addressingMonsieur Coasson in a tone of high anger.

  "You here! Monsieur Coasson!" said Toussaint; "and availing yourselfonce more of the weakness and woes of women, I perceive."

  "I came as guide," replied Monsieur Coasson. "The admiral and histroops needed some one to show them the way; and, as you are aware, Iwas qualified to do so. I have always felt, too, that I had a sort ofappointment to fulfil with this young lady. Her kind expressionstowards the whites on my last visit might be considered a sort ofinvitation to come again--with such a train as you see," pointing to thestiff row of grenadiers who stood behind.

  Genifrede groaned.

  "Make yourself happy with your train," said Toussaint, as he seized thewretch by the collar, hurled him back among the grenadiers, and kickedhim over as he lay, introducing great disorder into the formalarrangements of that dignified guard.

  This would have been the last moment of Toussaint, if General Brunet hadnot drawn his sword, and commanded every one to stand back. His orders,he said, were to deliver his prisoner alive.

  "Come, my love," said Toussaint to Madame L'Ouverture. "We are to sleepon board a frigate this night. Come. Genifrede! We may sleep inpeace. General Brunet will hardly be able to digest your hospitality,my Margot; but _you_ may sleep. Who else?" he asked, as he looked roundupon his trembling household.

  "We are following," said Monsieur Pascal, who had his wife andEuphrosyne on either arm.

  "Pardon me," said General Brunet. "Our orders extend only to GeneralToussaint and his family. You must remain. Reverend father," he saidto Father Laxabon, "you will remain also--to comfort any friends ofGeneral Toussaint whom you
may be able to meet with to-morrow. Theywill be all inconsolable, no doubt."

  Monsieur Coasson whispered to the admiral, who said, in consequence,bowing to Euphrosyne--

  "I can answer for this young lady being a welcome guest to MadameLeclerc. If she will afford to a countryman the pleasure and honour ofconveying her, it will give him joy to introduce her to a society worthyof her."

  "I do not wish to see Madame Leclerc," said Euphrosyne, speaking withsurprising calmness, though her cheek was white as ashes. "I wish to bewherever I may best testify my attachment to these my honoured friends,in the day of their undeserved adversity."

  She looked from Monsieur Pascal to L'Ouverture.

  "Stay with those who can be your guardians," said Toussaint.

  "For our sakes," added Genifrede.

  "Stay with us!" cried Monsieur Pascal and Afra.

  "Farewell, then," said Euphrosyne, extending her arms to MadameL'Ouverture.

  "We are losing time," said General Brunet, as the clang of thealarm-bell was heard again. By his order, some soldiers went in searchof the traitor who was ringing the bell; and others pushed the captivefamily before them towards the door. Monsieur Coasson thrust himselfbetween the parting friends, and began to count the family, in order totell who was missing. It would not do, he observed, to leave anybehind.

  "Lose no more time," said the admiral. "Those who may be left behindare cared for, I promise you. We have a hundred of them safe already."

  "A hundred of whom?" asked Toussaint, as he walked.

  "Of your friends," replied Admiral Ferrari.

  This was too true. A hundred of Toussaint's most attached adherents hadbeen seized this night. No one of them was ever again heard of in theisland.

  At the door of the mansion Denis was brought forward, guarded. His eyeswere flashing fire.

  "The country is up!" he cried. "I got good service out of the old bellbefore they found me."

  "Right, my boy! Thank you!" said his father, cheerfully.

  "Give Genifrede to me, father. My mother is ready to sink."

  Proudly he supported his sister to the boats, carrying her on so rapidlyas to prevent the need of any soldier speaking to her.

  There was an array of boats along the shore of the bay. Distant firingwas heard during the whole time that the prisoners and the troops wereembarking.

  "They must be very much afraid of us," observed Denis, looking round, assoon as he had taken his place beside his sister in the boat. "Theyhave given us above a hundred guards, I believe."

  "They are afraid of us," said Toussaint.

  "There is terrible fighting somewhere," murmured the weeping Margot. "Iam afraid Placide is in the midst of it."

  "He is in his duty if he be," said Toussaint.

  Placide had discharged this kind of duty, however, and now appeared tofulfil the other--of sharing the captivity of his parents. He leapedinto the boat, breathless, after it had pushed off from the shore.

  "In time, thank God!" gasped he.

  "He can hardly speak!" exclaimed his mother. "He is wet! He iswounded--cruelly wounded!"

  "Not wounded at all, mother. Whole in heart and skin! I am soaked inthe blood of our enemies. We have fought gloriously--in vain, however,for to-night. Latortue is shot; and Jasmin. There are few left butChristophe; but he is fighting like a lion."

  "Why did you leave him, my son?" asked Toussaint.

  "He desired me to come, again and again, and I fought on. At last I wascut off from him. I could not give any more help there; and I saw thatmy business lay here. They say this frigate is the _Creole_. Whitherbound, I wonder?"

  "To Cap Francais," replied the officer in the stern: "to join the_Heros_, now in the roads there."

  "The _Heros_--a seventy-four, I think," said L'Ouverture.

  "A seventy-four--you are correct," replied the officer. No one spokeagain.