THE ENLISTMENT.
All the adventurers assembled round the platform, anxiously awaiting
what Montbarts had to tell them.
"Brothers," he said, a moment after, "I am preparing a new expedition,
for which I require three hundred resolute men; who among you will
follow Montbarts the Exterminator?"
"All, all!" the adventurers shouted, enthusiastically.
The Governor prepared to withdraw.
"Pardon me, Chevalier de Fontenay," Montbarts said, "be kind enough to
remain a few minutes longer; the expedition I have projected is most
serious: I am about to dictate a charter party, to which I will ask
you, as Governor of the colony, to append your signature before that of
our companions--moreover, I have a bargain to propose to you."
"I will remain, since you desire it, Montbarts," the Governor replied,
as he returned to his seat; "now be kind enough to inform me of the
bargain you wish to propose."
"You are the owner, sir, I think, of two brigantines of eighty tons
each?"
"I am."
"These brigantines are useless to you at this moment, as you appear, at
least until fresh orders, to have given up cruising, while they will be
very useful to me."
"In that case, sir, they are at your service from this moment," the
Governor replied, gallantly.
"I thank you, as I ought, for your politeness, sir, but that is not
my meaning; in an expedition like the one I meditate, no one can
foresee what may happen, hence I propose to buy your two ships for four
thousand crowns cash."
"Very good, sir, since you wish it; I am delighted to be of service to
you; the two ships are yours."
"I shall have the honour of handing you the four thousand crowns within
an hour."
The two men bowed; and then the filibuster turned to the adventurers,
who were waiting, panting with, impatience, and whose curiosity had
been heightened by the purchase of the two vessels.
"Brothers," he said, in his sonorous and sympathetic voice, "for two
months past no expedition has been attempted, and no ship has put to
sea; are you not beginning to grow tired of this idle life which you
and I are leading? Are you not beginning to run short of money, and
are not your purses light? Zounds, comrades, come with me, and within
a fortnight your pockets shall be full of Spanish doubloons, and
the pretty girls, who today are so coy, will then lavish their most
charming smiles on you--down with the Spaniards, brothers! Those of
you who are willing to follow me can give their names to Michael the
Basque, my mate. Still, as the shares will be large, the danger will
be great; to obtain them I only want men resolved to conquer or to
die bravely, without asking quarter of the enemy or granting it; I am
Montbarts the Exterminator--I grant no mercy to the Spaniards, nor do I
ask it of them."
Enthusiastic shouts greeted these words, uttered with that accent which
the celebrated filibuster knew so well how to assume when he wished to
seduce the individuals he was addressing.
The enlistment began; Michael the Basque had seated himself at the
table previously occupied by the Company's agent, and wrote down the
names of the adventurers, who pressed round him in a crowd, and who
all wished to join in an expedition which they foresaw would be most
lucrative.
But Michael had received strict instructions from his master: convinced
that he should not want for men, and that more would offer than he
needed, he carefully selected those whose names he took, and pitilessly
rejected those adventurers whose reputation for, we will not say
bravery, for all were brave as lions, but for reckless daring, was not
thoroughly established.
Still in spite of Michael's intended strictness, the number of three
hundred was soon complete. We need scarce say they were the flower
of the filibusters, all adventurers, the least renowned of whom
had performed deeds of incredible daring, men with whom attempting
impossibilities and achieving them had become but mere child's play.
The first inserted were, as had been agreed on the preceding night, the
members of the society of the Twelve.
Hence M. de Fontenay, who, an old filibuster himself, knew all these
men, not only by reputation, but from having seen them at work, could
not recover from his surprise, and incessantly repeated to Montbarts,
who was standing, calm and smiling at his side, "What can you be after?
Do you mean to seize on Hispaniola?"
"Who knows?" the filibuster replied sportively.
"Still, I think I have a right to your confidence," the governor said
in an offended tone.
"The most entire, Sir; still, you are aware that the first condition
of security in an expedition is secrecy."
"That is true."
"I cannot tell you anything, but do not prevent you from guessing."
"Guessing! But how?"
"Well, perhaps the charter party will set you on the right track."
"Well, let me hear it."
"A little patience still; but stay, here is Michael coming toward me.
Well," he asked him, "have you completed our number?"
"I should think so; I have three hundred and fifty men."
"Hang it, that is a great number."
"I could not do otherwise than accept them; when it is a question about
going with Montbarts, it is impossible to keep them back."
"Well, we will take them, if it must be so," Montbarts said with a
smile, "give me your list."
Michael handed it to him; the filibuster looked round him, and
perceived an agent of the Company, whom curiosity had kept back, and
who had remained in the shed to witness the enlistment.
"You are a Company's agent, I think, sir?" he said to him, politely.
"Yes, sir," the agent replied with a bow, "I have that honour."
"In that case, may I ask you to do me a service?"
"Speak, sir, I shall be only too glad to oblige you."
"My companions and myself are no great clerks, and we can use a hatchet
better than a pen; would it be presuming too much on your kindness to
ask you to be good enough to serve as my secretary for a few minutes,
and write down the charter party I shall dictate to you, and which my
comrades will sign, after having it read to them?"
"I am only too happy, sir, that you deign to honour me with your
confidence," the agent said with a bow.
Then he seated himself at the table, selected some paper, mended a pen
and waited.
"Silence, if you please, gentlemen," said the Chevalier de Fontenay,
who had exchanged a few words in a low voice with Montbarts.
The private conversations were checked, and a profound silence was
established almost instantaneously. M. de Fontenay continued.
"A filibustering expedition, composed of three ships, two brigantines
and a lugger, is about to leave St. Kitts, under the command of
Montbarts, whom I appoint, in the name of His most Christian Majesty,
Louis, fourteenth of that name, admiral of the fleet. This expedition,
whose object remains secret, has been joined by 350 men, the flower of
the filibusters. The three captains chosen to command the ships are,
Michael the Basque, William Drake, and John David. They are ordered to
obey in every point the commands they will receive from the admiral,
and each captain will himself appoint his officers." Then, turning to
Montbarts, he added, "Now admiral, dictate the charter party."
The adventurer bowed, and addressing the Company's agent, who was
watching with head and pen erect, he said to him--
"Are you ready, sir?"
"I await your orders."
"In that case write as I dictate."
No expedition ever left port without having previously proclaimed the
charter party: this document, in which the rights of each man were
rigorously stipulated, served as the supreme law for these men, who,
undisciplined though they were ashore, bowed without a murmur to the
strictest decrees of the naval code: so soon as they had set foot on
the vessel for which they were engaged, the captain of yesterday became
a sailor today, accepted without grumbling the eventual inferiority
which the duration of the cruise alone maintained, and which ended on
the return to port, by placing each member of the expedition on the
same level, and on a footing of the most perfect equality.
We quote literally the charter party our readers are about to peruse,
because from this authentic act they will understand more easily the
range and power of this strange association, and the manner in which
the filibusters treated each other.
Montbarts dictated what follows in a calm voice amid the religious
silence of his auditors, who only interrupted him at intervals, by
shouts of approbation.
"Charter party decreed by Admiral Montbarts, Captains Michael the
Basque, William Drake, John David, and the Brethren of the Coast, who
have voluntarily placed themselves under their orders, and which is
fully consented to by them."
"The admiral will have a right, in addition to his share, to one man
per hundred."
"Each captain will receive twelve shares."
"Each brother four shares."
"These shares will only be counted after the king's part has been
deducted from all the shares."
"The surgeons will receive, in addition to their share, two hundred
dollars each, as payment for their medicaments."
"The carpenters, in addition to their share, will each, have a claim
for one hundred dollars, in remuneration of their labours."
"Any disobedience will be punished by death, whatever be the name or
rank of the culprit."
"The brothers who distinguish themselves in the expedition will be
rewarded in the following manner--The man who pulls down the enemy's
flag from a fortress, and hoists the French one, will have a claim, in
addition to his share, to fifty piastres."
"The man who takes a prisoner, when out in search of news of the enemy,
will have, in addition to his share, one hundred piastres."
"The grenadiers, for each grenade thrown into a fort, five piastres."
"Any man, who in action captures a high officer of the enemy, will be
rewarded by the admiral, if he has risked his life, in a generous way."
"Rewards offered, in addition to their share, to the wounded and
mutilated."
"For the loss of both legs, fifteen hundred crowns, or fifteen slaves,
at the choice of the recipient: if there are enough slaves."
"For the loss of both arms, eighteen hundred piastres or eighteen
slaves, at choice."
"For a leg, no distinction between right and left, five hundred
piastres or five slaves."
"For an eye, one hundred piastres or a slave; for an arm or a hand,
no distinction between right and left, four hundred piastres or four
slaves."
"For both eyes, two thousand piastres, or twenty slaves."
"For a finger, one hundred piastres or one slave: if any man be
dangerously wounded in the body he will have five hundred piastres or
five slaves."
"It is already understood, that, in the same way, as with the king's
part, all these rewards will be raised on the whole of the booty,
before dividing the shares."
"Any enemy's vessel captured either at sea or at anchor, will be
divided between all the members of the expedition, unless it be
valued at more than ten thousand crowns, in which case one thousand
crowns will be set apart for the first ship's crew that boarded: the
expedition will hoist the royal flag of France, and the admiral bear in
addition the _red, white, and blue_ flag."
"No officer or sailor of the expedition will be allowed to remain
ashore anywhere unless he has previously obtained the admiral's
permission, under penalty of being declared a maroon, and prosecuted as
such."
When this last paragraph which, like all that preceded it, had been
listened to in the most profound silence, had been recorded by the
Company's agent, Montbarts took the charter party, and read it through
in a loud clear voice--
"Does this charter party suit you, brethren?" he then asked the
filibusters.
"Yes, yes," they shouted, waving their caps, "long live Montbarts! Long
live Montbarts!"
"And you swear, as my officers and myself swear, to obey without a
murmur, and strictly carry out all the clauses of this charter party?"
"We swear it," they repeated.
"Very good," Montbarts continued; "the embarkation will commence at
sunrise tomorrow, and all the crews must be on board the fleet before
ten o'clock."
"We will be there."
"Now, brethren, let me remind you that each of you must be armed with a
fusil, and a cutlass, have a bag of bullets, and at least three pounds
of gunpowder: I repeat that the expedition we are about to undertake
is most serious, so that you may not forget to choose your chums, that
they may aid you in the case of illness or wounds, and make your wills,
as otherwise your shares would lapse to the king. You have understood
me, brothers? Employ as you please the few hours' liberty left you, but
do not forget that I expect you on board at day break tomorrow."
The filibusters replied by shouts, and left the shed, where there only
remained the governor, Montbarts, his captains, and the new engagé
called the Olonnais, whom the adventurer had bought by auction a few
hours previously, and who, far from being sad, seemed, on the contrary,
extremely pleased at all that was going on in his presence.
"As for you, gentlemen," Montbarts said, "I have no orders to give
you, for you know as well as I what you have to do. Draw lots for your
commands, then go on board, inspect the masts and rigging, and get
ready to sail at the first signal. These are the only recommendations,
I think, I need make you. Good-bye."
The three captains bowed, and at once withdrew.
"Ah!" Chevalier de Fontenay said, with an accent of regret, "My dear
Montbarts, I never see an expedition preparing without having a lively
feeling of sorrow, and almost of envy."
"Do you regret your adventurous life, sir? I understand that feeling,
although each expedition brings you an augmentation of wealth."
"What do I care for that? Do not believe that I make an avaricious
calculation. No! My thoughts are of a higher order. But the moment is
badly chosen to chatter with you. Go, sir! And if you succeed, as I do
not doubt--and yet, who knows? On your return we shall perhaps be able
to come to an understanding; and then we will attempt an expedition
together, which I hope will be talked about for a long time."
"I shall be glad," the filibuster replied, politely, "to have you as a
partner. Your brilliant courage, and far from ordinary merit, are to
me certain guarantees of success. I shall therefore have the honour to
hold myself at your orders, if it please Heaven that I succeed this
time, and return safe and sound from the expedition I meditate."
"Good luck, sir; and let us hope to meet again soon."
"Thank you, sir."
They shook hands; and as, while conversing, they had left the shed,
they went different roads, after a parting bow.
The filibuster, followed by the engagé, proceeded slowly towards his
house.
At the moment when he left the town, a man placed himself before him,
and bowed.
"What do you want with me?" the adventurer asked, giving him a
scrutinizing glance.
"To say a word to you."
"Say on."
"Are you Captain Montbarts?"
"You must be a stranger, to ask that question."
"No matter. Answer."
"I am Captain Montbarts."
"In that case, this letter is for you."
"A letter for me!" he exclaimed, in surprise.
"Here it is," the stranger said, as he presented it.
"Give it to me."
And he took it from him.
"Now my commission is performed, farewell."
"A word, in your turn."
"Speak."
"From whom comes this letter?"
"I do not know; but you will probably learn by reading the contents."
"That is true."
"Then I may retire?"
"Nothing prevents you."
The stranger bowed, and went away.
Montbarts opened the letter, hurriedly perused it, and turned pale.
Then he re-read it; but this time slowly, and as if he wished to dwell
on each sentence.
A moment later he seemed to form a resolution, and turned to his
engagé, who was standing a few paces from him.
"Come here," he said to him.
"Here I am," said the other.
"You are a sailor?"
"A 1, I fancy."
"That is well. Follow me."
The filibuster turned back, hastily re-entered the town, and proceeded
toward the sea.
He seemed to be seeking something. A moment later, his gloomy face grew
brighter.
He had just seen a light canoe pulled up on the beach.
"Help me to float this canoe," he said to the engagé.
The latter obeyed.
So soon as the canoe was afloat, Montbarts leaped in, closely followed
by his engagé; and seizing the paddles, they put off from the shore.
"Step the mast, so that we may hoist a sail so soon as we are free of
the ships."
The Olonnais, without answering, did as he was ordered.
"Good!" Montbarts continued. "Now haul the sheets aft, and hand them to
me, my lad."
In a second the sail was hoisted, set, and the light canoe bounded like
a petrel over the crest of the waves.
They ran thus for some time without exchanging a word. They had left
the ships far behind them, and passed out of the roads.
"Do you speak Spanish?" Montbarts suddenly asked the engagé.
"Like a native of Old Castile," the other answered.
"Ah! Ah!" said Montbarts.
"It is easy to understand," the Olonnais continued. "I went whaling
with the Basques and Bayonnese, and for several years smuggled along
the Spanish coast."
"And do you like the Spaniards?"
"No!" the other answered, with a frown.
"You have a motive, of course?"
"I have one."
"Will you tell it me?"
"Why not?"
"Out with it, then."
"I had a boat of my own, in which, as I told you, I smuggled. I worked
six years to save up the money to buy this boat. One day, while seeking
to land prohibited goods in a bay to windward of Portugalete, I was
surprised by a Spanish revenue lugger. My boat was sunk, my brother
killed, myself dangerously wounded, and I fell into the hands of the
Gavachos. The first bandage they placed on my wounds was a bastinado,
which left me for dead on the ground. Believing, doubtless, that
they had killed me, they abandoned me then, and paid no further
attention to me. I succeeded by boldness and cunning, after enduring
indescribable tortures from hunger, cold, fatigue, &c., too lengthy to
enumerate, in at length leaping across the frontier, and finding myself
once again on French soil. I was free, but my brother was dead. I was
ruined, and my old father ran a risk of dying of hunger--thanks to the
Spaniards. Such is my history. It is not long.--How do you like it?"
"It is a sad one, my good fellow; but it is as much hatred as the
desire of growing rich which has brought you among us?"
"It is hatred, before everything."
"Good! Take the helm in my place, while I reflect. We are going to
Nevis. Steer to windward of that point which juts out down there to the
southeast."
The engagé seized the helm. Montbarts wrapped himself in his cloak,
pulled his hat over his eyes, let his head sink on his chest, and
remained motionless as a statue. The canoe still advanced, vigorously
impelled by the breeze.