WHILST the scene which Thaddeus has just described was passing behind
the camp, I had succeeded with some of my men in climbing the opposite
hills, by aid of the brushwood, until we had reached a point called
Peacock Peak, from the brilliant tints of the mica which coated the
surface of the rock.
From this position, which was opposite a rock covered with negroes, we
opened a withering fire. The insurgents, who were not so well armed as
we were, could not reply warmly to our volleys, and in a short time
began to grow discouraged. We redoubled our efforts, and our enemies
soon evacuated the neighbouring rocks, first hurling the dead bodies of
their comrades upon our army, the greater proportion of which was still
drawn up on the hill. Then we cut down several trees, and binding the
trunks together with fibres of the palm, we improvised a bridge, and by
it crossed over to the deserted positions of the enemy, and thus managed
to secure a good post of vantage. This operation completely quenched the
courage of the rebels. Our fire continued. Shouts of grief arose from
them, in which the name of Bug-Jargal was frequently repeated. Many
negroes of the army of Morne-Rouge appeared on the rock upon which the
blood-red banner still floated; they prostrated themselves before it,
tore it from its resting-place, and then precipitated it and themselves
into the depths of the Grande-Riviere. This seemed to signify that their
chief was either killed or a prisoner.
Our confidence had now risen to such a pitch that I resolved to drive
them from their last position at the point of the bayonet, and at the
head of my men I dashed into the midst of the negroes. The soldiers were
about to follow me across the temporary bridge that I had caused to be
thrown from peak to peak, when one of the rebels with a blow of his axe
broke the bridge to atoms, and the ruins fell into the abyss with a
terrible noise.
I turned my head—in a moment I was surrounded, and seized by six or
seven negroes, who disarmed me in a moment. I struggled like a lion, but
they bound me with cords made of bark, heedless of the hail of bullets
that my soldiers poured upon them.
My despair was somewhat soothed by the cries of victory which I heard
from our men, and I soon saw the negroes and mulattoes ascending the
steep sides of the rocks with all the precipitation of fear, uttering
cries of terror.
My captors followed their example. The strongest amongst them placed me
on their shoulders, and carried me in the direction of the forest,
leaping from rock to rock with the agility of wild goats. The flames
soon ceased to light the scene, and it was by the pale rays of the moon
that we pursued our course.