HF - 03 - The Devil's Own

by Christopher Nicole

  His big fist was closed, and now he hurled it at Harrison's chin. The planter saw the blow coming and hastily attempted to get out of the way, he stumbled over a chair, lost his balance, and sat down. His companions retreated against the wall.

  'Why, you ... you brawler, sir,' Harrison shouted, getting to his feet and whipping his sword from its scabbard.

  'Gentlemen, gentlemen,' shouted Miss Blaine, coming in from the back. 'You cannot fight in my parlour. I'll have the constables on you.'

  'There is a beach, at the bottom of the garden,' Kit pointed out.

  'Aye. Let us adjourn there promptly,' Harrison said. 'You'll second me, Mr Alleyne?'

  'Indeed I will. Mr Browne, perhaps you would be good enough to act for Captain Hilton?' 'Willingly.'

  'Gentlemen,' Miss Blaine pleaded. 'Can this matter not be settled without bloodshed? I do implore you. It will make no good appearance in the press, and with the trial due to start in twenty-four hours, and King William barely cold in his grave.'

  'The remedy lies with Captain Hilton,' Harrison declared.

  'On the contrary, sir,' Kit insisted. 'It lies entirely with you, gentlemen, to withdraw. I know my duty and I shall do it. And if you force me to kill you, sir, well then, be sure that I will do that too.'

  Harrison stared at him, seemed for the first time to take in his heavy shoulders and the strength of the fingers in his right hand, to notice that it was no display rapier hanging by his side but a most serviceable sword, and perhaps also to recall something of his reputation.

  'Aye,' he said at last. 'I have no doubt you would, sir. Your background of violence is well known.'

  'Nor do I seek to deny it, sir,' Kit said. 'Come, do we make for the beach, or not?'

  Harrison glanced at his fellows. ’I’ll not be butchered by a professional swordsman,' he said. 'Be sure, sir, that your sins will find you out.' He crammed his hat on his head and left the room, followed by his friends.

  The clerk opened the door. 'They are ready for you now, Captain Hilton.'

  Kit got up. He had grown sufficiently tired of the bare-walled little room in which he had been confined all the morning, not even allowed out for lunch, but forced to eat his meal from a tray, for all the world as if he were the prisoner and himself awaiting trial.

  But Mr Sergeant Pratt and the other law officers had considered it necessary, first of all that he be confined away from the other witnesses until his turn came, and that he should be as far as possible protected from public insult which might have him once again reaching for his sword. The news of the abortive duel with Harrison had made the round of the Bridgetown clubs, and caused as much sensation as the whole trial. For apparently Mr Harrison was a man of some repute as a duellist. Not, of course, that anyone blamed him publicly, or indeed would have dared to do so, for refusing to draw his sword upon an ex-buccaneer, one of Morgan's men. How would that episode in his past dog him to the end of his days, Kit thought.

  He followed the clerk along the corridor, entered the courtroom, paused for a few seconds to allow his eyes to become accustomed to the brilliant light and the still more brilliant colours, for the windows were huge sheets of glass which admitted the full force of the sun, and it seemed all Barbados was here, from the Governor himself, acting as Chief Justice, and wearing a scarlet robe, to the ladies in the gallery in their sparkling dresses and hats and fans. And not only all Barbados; in their midst Marguerite sat, wearing her favourite crimson, her handkerchief held to her nose and lips.

  'If you will, Captain Hilton.' The clerk waited.

  Kit climbed the spiral stairs to the witness box. Here he was on a level with the dais where sat the judge. The dock was below him and to his left. He cast a hasty glance in that direction. Philip Warner was soberly dressed in dark brown, and might have been an agent rather than a wealthy planter. He returned Kit's stare without hostility. Indeed, his face was remarkably relaxed.

  'You'll take the oath, Captain.'

  The Bible was in front of him, and the printed card waited by it. 'I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.' He faced Mr Pratt.

  'Will you state your full name, and your occupation, and your address, sir.'

  'Christopher Hilton, planter, late of Plantation Green Grove in the colony of Antigua.'

  Pratt frowned at him. 'Did you say late of Plantation Green Grove, Captain Hilton?'

  'I am no longer living on the ..." he cast a defiant look at the gallery. 'On my plantation.'

  'Why is that?'

  'I am estranged from my wife.'

  'Ah.' Pratt appeared to consult his notes. 'Would you tell the court your relationship with the accused?' 'He is my father-in-law.'

  'Ah,' Pratt said. 'Now, sir, will you tell the court in your own words the circumstances surrounding the recent assault made by the people of Antigua on the Carib tribes in Dominica?'

  'The Caribs, in company with the French, had made a raid upon Antigua,' Kit said. 'Some loss of life, and much more of property, was sustained. It was the wish of the people of Antigua to be avenged.'

  'But you opposed this?'

  'No, sir. Not in the last resort. It was my wish to bring about an end to the fighting between the two peoples which had been carried on for over fifty years.'

  'And you thought you could achieve this?'

  'I thought, sir, as we of Antigua were led by Colonel Philip Warner, and the Caribs in Dominica were led by Mr Thomas Warner, and these two gentlemen were brothers, that it should be possible to make a treaty of peace with the Indians.'

  'You would not describe this as an ambitious scheme, Captain Hilton?'

  'No, sir. I knew both gentlemen. I felt it was worth trying, in order both to end the present strife, and to prevent future strife, with its attendant loss of life and property. Besides, sir, peace had been agreed between England and France, shortly after the raid on Antigua. In the circumstances it seemed to be the proper thing to agree peace with the French allies, the Indians. Nor, sir, was I risking anything more than my own life, I thought. There was a fleet of three ships out of St John's, with nearly three hundred armed men on board. Had I failed in my mission, they could have carried on the assault as they had planned.'

  'But you did not fail, Captain Hilton.'

  'I persuaded the Caribs to talk peace, sir. I visited their village, I spoke with Thomas Warner and his caciques, and I persuaded them to come down to the shore to speak with Colonel Warner.'

  'Now, Captain Hilton, tell the court whether Colonel Warner was privy to your plans.'

  'He was, sir. The plan had been decided at a meeting in St John's at which all the principal residents of Antigua were present, as well as the ships' captains, as well as Sir William Stapleton.'

  'And what arrangements had you made to safeguard the Indian chieftains when they came to the conference?'

  'I had received Colonel Warner's personal assurance of their safety.'

  Mr Pratt paused, and looked around the court, which was tensely silent. 'And what happened when the eight caciques arrived at the beach, Captain Hilton?'

  'They were taken out to Captain Bale's ship, where Colonel Warner waited, and they were shown into the great cabin, and informed that they were under arrest. When they would have made their escape, the doors to the sleeping cabins behind us were opened and Colonel Warner's men opened fire with muskets and pistols.'

  'And what were you and Colonel Warner doing this while?'

  'Colonel Warner threw me to the deck and lay on top of me,' Kit said. 'I was too surprised at what had happened immediately to attempt to get up. By the time I did get up, the massacre was over. The crew used their cutlasses to complete the work of their firearms.'

  'And what was your reaction to this crime, Captain Hilton?'

  'I assaulted Colonel Warner.'

  'And what happened then?'

  'I was placed under arrest until the ship regained St Johns.' 'And then?'

  'I accused Colonel Warner
of the crime, before Sir William Stapleton.'

  'Following which the accused was sent home for trial, before being returned here. Yes, indeed, Captain Hilton. That will do admirably. Your witness, Mr Harley.'

  The Defence Advocate slowly stood up. It seemed to take him a very long time, because he was a very tall man. Like so many tall men he was also untidy; his wig was askew. Which did not mean Kit realized, that he was a poor advocate; perhaps the reverse.

  'Captain Hilton,' he said, slowly and thoughtfully. 'An honorary title? Or is there some great event in your past of which this court is unaware?'

  Kit flushed. 'Mainly honorary, sir. I once commanded a trading sloop out of St John's.' 'In the employ of whom?' 'Several planters of Antigua.' 'Of whom the principal was Colonel Warner?' 'Yes.'

  A murmur went round the court.

  'But of course,' Harley said, 'you and Colonel Warner are old acquaintances. Indeed, your two families have been closely connected since the first Englishmen settled these islands. Is that not so?'

  'It is,' Kit agreed.

  'Your grandfather was one of Sir Thomas Warner's associates?' 'He was.'

  'And your grandmother was one of Sir Thomas Warner's servants, I understand.'

  Kit felt his cheeks burning. But he kept his voice even. 'She was.'

  'And on one occasion she was flogged for absconding?' 'Yes,' Kit said.

  'A sad case,' Mr Harley said, regretfully. 'One can understand ... but no matter. At a later date she was a close, an, ah, intimate friend of Mr Edward Warner, I believe.'

  'I was not alive then,' Kit said.

  'Nevertheless you will have heard this story.'

  'I have been told many stories about my family, sir,' Kit said. 'I doubt they have any bearing on our reasons for being here today.'

  'On the contrary, sir, they have every bearing on our presence here today. But I will touch on that matter in a moment. Now, sir, your grandfather left St Kitts and settled in Tortuga. And achieved high office.'

  'He was first Governor of Tortuga.'

  'Where you grew to manhood. Tell the court if Colonel Warner ever visited your home.' 'He did. On one occasion.' 'When was this?'

  'Oh, a considerable time ago. Nearly twenty years.' 'And was he made welcome?'

  'As I remember, sir.'

  'There was no quarrel between your grandmother and Colonel Warner?' 'No, sir.'

  'I would remind you that you are under oath, Captain Hilton. Is it not a fact that Colonel Warner left Tortuga in haste, with a jury rig still holding up the foremast of his ship, after a quarrel with your grandmother?'

  'Colonel Warner did not quarrel with my grandmother, sir,' Kit said. 'The quarrel was with me. I ..." he glanced at the gallery. 'I was rude to Miss Warner. My future wife.'

  Again the murmur. But Harley, naturally enough, did not choose to pursue that line. 'Then tragedy struck. Tortuga was overrun by the Spaniards. May I ask what happened to your family?'

  'My grandmother was murdered by the Dons,' Kit said. 'I took refuge on the mainland of Hispaniola.' 'You escaped the holocaust. By yourself?' 'No, sir. I had a companion.'

  'Would you tell the court the name of this companion?'

  Kit looked at the gallery. What a mine of information she had proved, to be sure. 'His name was Jean DuCasse.'

  'DuCasse,' Harley said thoughtfully. 'Do you know, Captain Hilton, that name is vaguely familiar to me. Yet I cannot place it. Perhaps you would be good enough to tell me why it should be familiar?'

  'Admiral DuCasse now commands a French fleet in these waters.'

  'Indeed lie does. How silly of me to have forgotten. And Admiral DuCasse was in command of the French fleet when it invaded Antigua last year.'

  'That is correct,' Kit said.

  'Which is no doubt why Plantation Green Grove was spared the worst effects of the outrage. Because he is an old acquaintance of yours. Or do I do you both an injustice. Is acquaintance the word you would choose, Captain Hilton?'

  'Monsieur DuCasse is my oldest friend,' Kit said. 'We survived together more than two years in the jungles of Hispaniola, and afterwards ..." he hesitated.

  'You were matelots. But please continue, Captain Hilton.'

  'Afterwards we marched together through the jungle of Central America, on Panama.'

  'Under the command of the late Sir Henry Morgan. So another facet of your remarkable career comes to light. You were a buccaneer.'

  'I have never denied that, sir.'

  'Indeed you have not. And then, the buccaneer fleet having been disbanded, at least by Morgan, you took yourself to Antigua and a new career. But in the first instance you commanded a sloop owned by Colonel Warner.'

  'And others.'

  'Indeed. But the employment was granted by Colonel Warner. It would seem that he had decided to let bygones be bygones, in his desire to help the orphaned son of his old servant.'

  'He needed a sea captain,' Kit said evenly. 'I was a sea captain.'

  'You had been a buccaneer, yes. But you will agree that it was magnanimous of Colonel Warner.' 'He needed a seaman,' Kit said again.

  Harley stared at him for some seconds, and then shrugged. 'However, the animosity which you bear him, which lies constantly just beneath the surface, would not remain for long dormant.'

  'Your Lordship,' Mr Pratt said, getting up. 'I must object. My learned friend has not proved there was any animosity between this witness and the accused, nor has this witness suggested it.'

  The Governor nodded. 'I must agree with that point, Mr Harley.'

  'As you wish, Your Lordship,' Harley said. 'You remained in Colonel Warner's employment for a month, Captain Hilton, and then you resigned your command. I will not enter into your reasons for wishing to leave Colonel Warner's employ, but is it not a fact that when you resigned your position there was a violent quarrel?'

  'There was,' Kit said. 'But ...'

  'In the course of which you were set upon by Colonel Warner's servants, beaten, and thrown off the plantation?'

  'That is what happened,' Kit agreed.

  'But of course you bore the Colonel no ill will for this.' 'I ..."

  'And soon afterwards you married Mrs Marguerite Templeton, Colonel Warner's daughter.' Mr Harley held up his hand. 'I have no wish, it would be improper, for me to inquire into the methods used by a man in his courting, or to inquire into the wiles and fascinations a man may exercise over members of the female sex. Yet I would like your opinion on whether or not Colonel Warner approved of this marriage?'

  'He did not approve of the marriage,' Kit said. 'But he became reconciled to it as time went by.'

  'Ah, indeed. The power which time possesses, Captain Hilton, of enabling us poor mortals to become reconciled to our lot is in many ways the only thing which makes life tolerable. Would you not agree?'

  'I would say that is a remarkably passive point of view.'

  'You do not agree. I thought you might not. Would you deny that, if Colonel Warner became reconciled to your new position in the bosom of his family, you never became reconciled to the many injuries you conceived he had done to you, and to your family?'

  'If you mean by that, sir,' Kit said, 'that I have never actually liked Colonel Warner, then I would have to say that you are right.'

  'I thank you, sir,' Harley said.

  Pratt sat back and looked at the ceiling. He seemed to have indigestion.

  'I'm afraid,' Kit said, 'that I did not prove a very successful witness.'

  Mr Pratt snapped his fingers, and the boy brought two more glasses of rum punch; the tavern was close by the court-house, and indeed was entirely filled with spectators from the trial; but the Advocate General had secured a corner table in some privacy.

  'You were transparently honest, Captain, which is what I anticipated you would be, as you are a transparently honest man. There are pitfalls in such honesty, and there are great advantages. Nor do I think you came off worst in your encounter with Harley. I have known him for many years, as you may imagi
ne. He did not look particularly satisfied with the results he achieved. And in any event, I expected nothing less than an endeavour to discredit you. For how else may he possibly hope to gain the day for his client? You will note that he made no attempt to deny the truth of your allegations, only to impugn your motives for bringing them at all.'