"Spaniard," he said, laconically. "The Spaniards have a settlement down
in the south, and they have taken it into their heads that we are
trespassers. I am going to be one of those who meet the officers this
morning."
Our walk was soon at an end, and my eyes were busy noting the way in
which houses had sprung up in large patches of land, spread along at a
short distance from the bank of the broad river into which our stream
ran, and evidently marked out regularly and running for some distance
back.
It was the beginning of a town, but as I saw it then, it was a
collection of houses and goodly gardens, with plantations of corn,
sugar-cane, and cotton, all growing luxuriantly among the trees, which
had been left standing here and there.
The scene was as animated as it was beautiful. Boats lay at anchor,
dotted about in the glistening river, and right out, a quarter of a mile
from the shore, lay the Spanish vessel with her colours flying, and a
large boat lying alongside; while on shore I could see several of the
gentlemen I knew by sight, dressed like my father in uniform, and mostly
walking two and two in deep converse.
I had eyes for everything, and the picture I saw was soon printed
vividly in my imagination; one object that I remember well being the
English flag, which was blowing out from the top of a pole, which I soon
saw was not planted by man, being a tall straight pine which had been
lopped and smoothed down till it was exactly suited for the purpose to
which it was put.
Another thing too struck me, and that was the fact that though the
greater part of the men I saw about, standing idling and evidently
watching the ship with its boat alongside, were familiar to me, there
was quite a number of black faces, whose owners were loosely clad in
white cotton shirt and breeches, talking together, showing their white
teeth, and basking in the sun.
"Yes," said my father, as I looked inquiringly at him, "and it has been
in opposition to my wishes; but I am only one against many--they are
slaves."
Directly after, Colonel Preston came out of the largest of the wooden
houses in company with another officer, and as they caught sight of my
father, they hastened their pace and came towards him.
"Ah, Bruton," said the colonel, "you have come."
"Yes," said my father, smiling, as he shook hands with both; "and you
had been thinking that as I was such an opponent of many of your
measures, and held myself so much aloof, I should stay away."
"Well," said the colonel, who seemed startled by my father's words, "I
must confess I--"
"Had not much faith in me, Preston. But I hope that in any emergency
where my help is required, I shall not be found wanting."
"I am sure of it. I beg your pardon for my ungenerous thoughts," said
the colonel, warmly; "and I am sorry that you and I do not always think
the same."
"Whatever we may think, Preston," said my father, warmly, "I hope we
shall always hold each other in esteem."
"I know we shall," cried the colonel; and he shook hands warmly with me.
"Glad to see you, youngster," he said; "but be quick and grow into a
man. We want sturdy fellows who can handle a sword, and fight for their
land."
"Then they are aggressive, Preston?" said my father.
"Aggressive! You never heard such overbearing insolence."
"Yes, insolence," said the other officer. "Would you believe it,
Captain Bruton; they demand that we shall immediately give up this
land--this settlement which we have taken in the name and by permission
of his Majesty the King--and go."
"Where?" said my father, gravely.
"Ah, that they do not say," cried Colonel Preston. "An officer has come
with this command from the governor of their settlement, and, in the
customary haughty style of the overbearing Spaniard, the message has
been delivered, and the ambassador is coming to meet us at the General's
in about an hour for our reply as to how soon we shall be gone."
"That sounds Spanish," said my father. "Then they do not propose to
reimburse us for all that we have done, or to find us another
settlement?"
"No, no, no," cried the colonel, angrily; "our orders are to go--to
evacuate the settlement at once."
"That would be a painful task if we had to submit."
"Submit!" said the colonel, angrily. "Surely, Bruton, you would not
advocate such a plan after all that we have done?"
My father made no reply, but turned to look thoughtfully at the Spanish
ship, while the colonel seemed to be raging with anger.
"You will be present at the meeting, of course?" he said.
"Yes," said my father, quickly; "I have come on purpose. We must have
this peaceably settled if possible."
"Good heavens!" cried the colonel. "Ah, here is the General," he cried,
as the quiet, grave, benevolent man came up, dressed in a very shabby
uniform, whose gold lace was sadly frayed and tarnished. "Hark here,
sir; Captain Bruton talks of a peaceful settlement of this difficulty."
"Indeed!" said the General, frowning; and I looked at him eagerly, as I
recalled that he it was who had been spoken of as the leader of our
expedition. "Well, we shall see."
"And very shortly too," said Colonel Preston, warmly, "for here they
come."
All eyes were directed toward the large boat which had just pushed away
from the Spaniard, and which was now running rapidly toward the shore,
with the blades of the oars flashing, the flag in the stern-sheets
trailing in the water, and the glint of weapons seen now and then,
showing that those on board were well-armed. Then the General spoke.
"Preston and Crayford, have the goodness to receive these Spanish
gentlemen, and bring them up to my house. The rest, I hope, will
assemble quickly there, so that I can hear what they have to say."
This had evidently all been planned over night, for the officers in
uniform all seemed to be making fast for the house out of which I had
seen the General come, and before many minutes had elapsed the room was
thronged, and I was standing behind my father, who was close to where
the General stood.
Not a word was spoken, and in the silence I could hear plainly the noise
made by the sailors in laying in their oars, after which there was a
pause, and then plainly heard there were the tramp of men, the buzz of
voices. About a dozen soldiers halted outside, and four tall, dark,
handsome-looking Spanish officers were ushered in by Colonel Preston and
Mr Crayford.
Seats were proffered, but declined, and all remained standing, while the
Spanish officers conferred together for a few moments before one, who
seemed the youngest and lowest in rank, stepped forward, and in fair
English said haughtily--
"Gentlemen, I have come for your answer to the communication brought to
you last night from the governor of his most sacred Majesty's
possessions here in America. What is it to be?"
"Let me say first, sir," said the General, quietly, "that we do not
recognise the authority here of the King of Spain. We are on ground
belonging to his Majesty the King of England."
"You are interlopers, sir, on the colonial possessions of his Majesty
the King of Spain," said the young officer, coldly. "When will you have
evacuated this land?"
"What is to be our reply, gentlemen?" said the General, looking round.
"Am I to send word back that you will give up tamely, and submit to this
demand?"
"No, no, no," rose in an angry roar throughout the room.
"You alone were silent, Captain Bruton," said the General, sternly.
"Have you nothing to say?"
"Yes," said my father, who turned very white; and he took a step
forward. "Sir," he said to the Spanish officer, "is the governor of
your settlement aware that we are no trespassers here, but that we came
under the authority of his Majesty King George?"
"I believe all that has been discussed, sir," said the officer, coldly.
"Again I ask, how soon will you evacuate this place?"
"You are hasty, sir," said my father; and a murmur arose in the room.
"Gentlemen," he continued, turning towards his brother officers and
members of the expedition, "bear with me for a few moments."
There was another murmur and then silence, with every eye fixed angrily
upon my father's face, as he turned once more to the Spanish officers.
"Gentlemen," he said, "all of us who are here consider that we are
acting within our rights in taking and holding this land, which you see
we have turned from a wilderness into a smiling home. The question of
right seems to be in dispute. Cannot it be peacefully settled, for the
sake of all? I think we can convince your governor that we are only
acting within our rights."
The Spanish officer who was evidently the leader said a few words
angrily to the interpreter, who nodded shortly.
"Your answer?" he said, haughtily.
"That we demand a peaceable solution of this difficulty, and that there
be no bloodshed."
"When will you go?" cried the young Spaniard aggressively, and amidst a
low angry murmur I saw my father's face flush, as he took another step
forward, and raising his sword with his left hand he clapped his right
down upon the hilt.
A silence fell upon all, and his words rang out loudly and clearly as he
exclaimed with his eyes flashing and his brows knit--
"When our hands have no longer strength to draw our swords, sir--when
the last man has been beaten down in our struggle for liberty and life--
when we have again taught haughty, overbearing Spain that the English
race is not one to draw back--when--I beg your pardon, General," said my
father, stopping short.
"Go on, sir," said the General, sternly. "I would not wish for a better
exponent of my views."
"Then go, sir," continued my father, "and tell the man who sent you that
we are, all whom you see here, Englishmen who have made this our home--
men who mean to keep what we have won in defiance of Spain and all her
hosts."
"Is this your answer?" said the Spanish officer, sternly, as soon as
silence came after a tremendous cheer.
"Yes," cried the General, "that is our answer, gentlemen, so go in
peace."
"Yes, sir," said the Spaniard, after a few muttered words with his
companions, "to return in war."
His defiance was received in calm silence, and he and his companions
were led out again by Colonel Preston and Mr Crayford, not a word being
spoken till they had been seen to march down to the rough quay, embark,
and row off to their ship.
It was not till Colonel Preston and Mr Crayford had returned, full of
excitement, that the silence was broken by the General.
"Well, gentlemen," he said, "what have you to say?"
"God save the King!" said my father, enthusiastically.
"Then you will all fight in defence of your hearths and homes?"
A tremendous cheer was the answer.
"Well, then," said the General, "we must be prepared. I look upon it
all as an empty, insolent piece of bombast; but whatever it is, we must
not be taken unawares. Help shall be at once asked from England, and
meantime we must do all we can to place ourselves in a state of
defence."
"Well, George," said my father, as we walked back home, seeing the sails
of the Spaniard set, and that she was gliding slowly down the river,
"what have you to say to all this?"
"I should like to know whether the Spaniards will come back."
"Ah, that remains to be proved, my boy. We shall see."
"Not they," said Morgan, when I told him, and he was listening eagerly
to my account of what had taken place. "If we were Indians perhaps they
would; but we're Englishmen and Welshmen, look you. No, my lad, we're
more likely to see those Indians. Depend upon it, all that Spaniel said
was a bit of bounce."