THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COLONY.
A triple expedition, so serious as that conceived by Montbarts,
demanded, for its success, extreme care and precautions.
The few points occupied by the buccaneers on the Spanish isles, did not
at all resemble towns; they were agglomerations of houses built without
order, according to the liking or caprice of the owner, and occupying a
space twenty-fold larger than they should have taken in accordance with
the population. Hence, these points were spots almost impossible to
defend against a well-combined attack of the Spaniards, if the thought
occurred to the latter of finishing once for all with their formidable
neighbours.
Port Margot, for instance, the most important point in the French
possessions as a strategic position, was only a miserable hamlet, open
to all comers, without police or organization, where every language
was spoken, and which Spanish spies entered with the greatest facility
without incurring a risk of discovery, and thus scented the plans of
the filibusters.
Montbarts, before advancing and attacking the Spaniards, whom he
correctly suspected of being already acquainted with the motive of
his presence on the island, either through Don Antonio de la Ronda,
or other spies, and not wishing, when he was preparing to surprise
the enemy, to be himself surprised and see his retreat cut off by an
unforeseen attack, resolved to shelter Port Margot from a _coup de
main._
The grand council of the filibusters was convened on board the
admiral's lugger. In this way the resolutions formed by the council
would not transpire outside, and not reach hostile ears, ever open to
hear them.
Two days after the departure of Lepoletais, the council therefore
assembled on the deck of the vessel, which had been prepared for the
purpose, as the admiral's cabin had been judged too small to contain
all those whom their wealth or their reputation authorized in being
present at the meeting.
At ten in the morning, numerous skiffs left the shore and pulled
alongside the lugger, boarding it on all sides simultaneously.
Montbarts received the delegates as they presented themselves, and led
them beneath the awning prepared for them.
Ere long, all the delegates were assembled on board: they were forty
in number; filibusters, buccaneers, and habitants, all adventurers who
had lived for several years on the isles, and desperate enemies of
the Spaniards. Their complexion, bronzed by the tropical sun, their
energetic features, and flashing glances, made them resemble bandits
rather than peaceful colonists; but their frank and decided manners
allowed a guess at the prodigies of incredible daring which they had
already accomplished, and were ready to accomplish again, when the
moment for action arrived.
When all the members of the council were on board, Michael the Basque
gave the skiffs orders to return ashore, and to come alongside again
when they saw a large black and red flag hoisted at the mainmast of the
lugger. A splendid lunch preceded the council, which, was held at table
and during the dessert, so as to foil any indiscreet glances, which
were doubtless watching what was going on aboard from the top of the
cliffs.
When the repast was ended, and spirits, pipes, and tobacco had
been laid on the table by the engagés, an order was given to remove
the awning; the whole of the lugger's crew retired to the bows, and
Montbarts, without leaving his seat, struck the table with his knife to
request silence.
The delegates vaguely knew that grave interests were about to be
discussed, hence they had only eaten and drunk for form's sake, and
though the table offered all the appearances of a true filibustering
orgy, their brains were perfectly clear, and their heads cool.
The road of Port Margot offered at this moment a strange spectacle,
which was not deficient, however, in a certain picturesque and wild
grandeur.
Thousands of canoes were lying on their oars, forming an immense
circle, of which the filibustering squadron was the centre.
On shore, the cliffs and rocks were literally hidden by the confused
and dense mass of spectators who had flocked from all the houses to
watch, at a distance, this gigantic and Homeric feast, whose serious
motive they were far from suspecting, beneath its frivolous appearance.
Montbarts, after calling his friends' attention in a few words, to
the enormous crowd of spectators who surrounded them, and showing how
correct he had been in taking his precautions in consequence, filled
his glass, and rose, shouting in a sonorous voice--
"Brethren, the health of the king!"
"The health of the king!" the filibusters responded, as they rose, and
clinked their glasses together.
At the same moment, all the guns of the lugger were discharged with a
formidable noise; a loud clamour that rose from the beach proved that
the spectators heartily joined in this patriotic toast.
"Now," the admiral continued, as he sat down, which movement was
imitated by his companions, "let us talk of our business, and be
careful in doing so, that our gestures may not allow a suspicion of
what is occupying us, since our words cannot be overheard."
The council commenced its session. Montbarts, with the lofty views and
clearness of expression he possessed, explained, in a few words, the
critical position in which the colony would find it, unless energetic
measures were taken, not only to place it in a position to defend
itself, but also to hold out during the absence of the expedition.
"I can understand," he said in conclusion, "that so long as we merely
purposed to hunt wild bulls, such precautions were unnecessary, for our
breasts were a sure rampart for our habitations; but from today the
position is changed, we wish to create for ourselves an impregnable
refuge; we are going to attack the Spaniards in their homes, and must
consequently expect terrible reprisals from enemies, who, from the way
in which we act towards them, will soon comprehend that we wish to
remain the sole possessors of this land, which they have accustomed
themselves to regard as belonging to them legitimately; we must,
therefore, be in a position, not alone to resist them, but to inflict
on them such a chastisement for their audacity, that they will be for
ever disgusted with any fresh attempts to regain the territory we have
conquered. To effect this, we must build a real town, in the place of
the temporary camp which has, up to the present, sufficed us; and, with
the exception of the members of our association, no stranger must be
allowed to introduce himself among us, for the sake of spying us, and
repeating to our enemies our secrets, whatever their nature may be."
The filibusters warmly applauded these remarks, whose truth they
recognized. They at length saw the necessity of setting order in their
disorder, and entering the great human family, by themselves accepting
some of those laws, from which they fancied they had enfranchised
themselves for ever, and which are the sole condition of the vitality
of society.
Under the omnipotent influence of Montbarts and the members of the
association of the Twelve, who were scattered about the meeting, the
urgent measures were immediately discussed and settled; but when
everything was arranged, the council suddenly found itself stopped
short by a difficulty of which it had not thought at all--who was to be
entrusted with the duty of carrying out the measures, as no buccaneer
had a recognized authority over the rest?
The difficulty was great; almost insurmountable. Still it was Montbarts
who again smoothed down the difficulty to the general satisfaction.
"Nothing is more easy," he said, "than to find the man we want; this
is an exceptional case, and we must act according to circumstances.
Let us elect a chief, as for a dangerous expedition, let us choose
one who is energetic and intelligent, which will be a trifle, as the
only difficulty will be the choice among so many equally good. This
chief will be elected by us, the first for a year, his successor for
only six months, in order to guard against any abuse of power they
might eventually be attempted to try. This chief will assume the
title of governor, and in reality govern all civil matters, assisted
by a council of seven members, chosen by the habitants, as well as
by subaltern agents, nominated by himself. The laws he will employ
exist, for they are those of our association; it is understood that the
governor will watch, like a captain aboard his ship, over the safety
of the colony, and, in the event of treachery, will be punishable with
death. This proposition is, I believe, the only one that we can take
into consideration; does it suit you, brothers? Do you accept it?"
The delegates replied by a universal affirmation,
"In that case let us at once proceed to the election."
"Pardon me, brothers," Belle Tête said, "with your permission, I have a
few remarks to submit to the council."
"Speak, brother, we will hear you," Montbarts answered him.
"I offer myself," Belle Tête said frankly, "as governor, not through
ambition, for that would be absurd, but because I believe that I am at
this moment the best man for the place; you all know me, and hence I
will not put forward my qualifications. Certain reasons urge me to try,
if possible, to withdraw my promise, and not follow the expedition; to
which, however, I feel convinced that I shall render great services, if
you choose me as governor."
"You have heard, brethren," Montbarts said, "consult together, but fill
your glasses first, you have ten minutes to reflect; at the end of that
time all the glasses that have not been emptied will be considered as
adverse votes."
"Ah, traitor," Michael the Basque said, leaning over to Belle Tête's
ear, by whose side he was seated, "I know why you want to stop at Port
Margot."
"You? Stuff," he answered with embarrassment.
"Zounds, it is not difficult to guess, you are caught, mate."
"Well, it is true, and you are right, that little devil of a woman I
bought at St. Kitts has turned my head; she turns me round her little
finger."
"Ah! love!" Michael said ironically.
"The deuce take love, and the woman too; a girl no bigger than that,
whom I could smash with one blow."
"She is very pretty, you showed good taste; her name is Louise, is it
not?"
"Yes, Louise; it was a bad bargain I made."
"Nonsense!" Michael said, with the utmost seriousness, "well, there is
a way of arranging the matter."
"Do you think so?"
"Zounds, I am sure of it."
"I should like to know it, for I confess to you that she has completely
upset my ideas; the confounded girl, with her bird's voice, and sly
smile, turns me about like a whirligig: by Heaven, I am the most
unfortunate of men--tell me your plan, brother."
"Why, sell her to me."
Belle Tête suddenly turned pale at this blunt offer, which, indeed,
settled everything; but which, though he did not suspect it, Michael
only made in a joke, and to try him; he frowned, and angrily replied in
a voice trembling with emotion, and striking the table with his fist--
"Zounds, mate, that is a magnificent way you have found, but the fiend
take me if I accept it; no, no, whatever sorrow the little witch causes
me--have I not told you that she has bewitched me?--I love her! Blood
and thunder, do you understand that?"
"Of course I understand it; but come, reassure yourself, I have not
the slightest intention of depriving you of your Louise; what should I
do with a wife? Besides, what I have seen of other men's love affairs,
does not offer me the slightest inducement to try it on my own account."
"All right," Belle Tête replied, reassured by this frank declaration,
"that is speaking like a man; and, after all, you are right, brother;
although I would not consent for anything in the world to part with my
Louise, still, after the experience I have of her, if the bargain was
to be made again, hang me if I would purchase her."
"Stuff!" said Michael, with a shrug of his shoulders, "Men always say
that, and when the moment arrives, they never fail to begin the same
folly over again."
Belle Tête reflected for a moment, and then tapped Michael amicably on
the shoulder, at the same time saying with a laugh--
"On my word that is true, brother; you are right, I believe that I
should really behave as you say."
"I am certain of it," Michael replied, with another shrug of his
shoulders.
During this aside, between the two adventurers, the ten minutes had
elapsed.
"Brethren," said Montbarts, "we are about to proceed to an examination
of the votes."
He looked: all the glasses were empty.
"You are unanimous," he said, "and that is well. Brother Belle Tête,
you are elected governor of Port Margot."
"Brethren," the latter said, bowing all round, "I thank you for having
given me your votes. I shall not deceive your expectations; our colony,
even though I was obliged to bury myself beneath its ruins, shall never
fall into the hands of the Spaniards, and you know me well enough not
to doubt my oath. I intend to set to work this very day; for, as our
admiral has very justly said, we have not a moment to lose. Confide the
duty of guarding your interests to me."
"Before we separate," said Montbarts, "it would be as well, I fancy, to
agree to keep our deliberations secret for a few days."
"You may divulge them tomorrow without danger," Belle Tête continued;
"but allow me, brethren, to choose from among you the few assistants I
shall require."
"Do so," the filibusters answered.
Belle Tête named eight adventurers, whose blind bravery he knew, and
then addressed the delegates for the last time, who were already rising
and preparing to leave the ship.
"You remember, I trust that I am considered by you the leader of an
expedition."
"Yes," they replied.
"Consequently you owe me the most perfect obedience to all the orders I
shall give you in the common interest."
"Yes," they repeated.
"You swear, then, to obey me without any hesitation or murmuring?"
"We do."
"Very good; now farewell for the present, brothers."
The boats had been recalled by a flag hoisted at the main yard, and a
few minutes after all the delegates had left the ship, except Belle
Tête and the eight officers chosen by him.
Montbarts and Belle Tête remained shut up for some hours, doubtless
settling the measures which must be adopted in order to obtain the
desired result as soon as possible; then, a little before sunset,
the new Governor took leave of the Admiral, entered a boat prepared
expressly for him, and returned ashore, followed by his officers.
About eleven o'clock in the evening, when the town appeared completely
asleep, when all doors were shut, and lights extinguished, an observer
in a position to see what was going on, would have noticed a strange
spectacle.
Armed men glided gently out of the houses, casting inquiring glances
to the right and left, that seemed trying to pierce the profound
darkness by which they were surrounded. They proceeded separately on
tiptoe to the principal square, where they joined other men armed like
themselves, who, having arrived first, were waiting.
Ere long the number of these men, which was augmented every moment,
became considerable; at an order, given in a low voice, they broke up
into several parties, left the square by different outlets, went out of
the town, and formed a wide circle all round it.
One last band of about forty men had remained in the square, however;
this party was broken up in its turn, but, instead of also leaving the
town, platoons, composed of ten men each, went from the square in four
different directions, and entered the streets.
The latter were proceeding to pay domiciliary visits; no house escaped
their vigilance, they entered all, searching them with the most
scrupulous exactness, sounding the walls and flooring, and even opening
cupboards and chests.
Such minute researches necessarily occupied a long time, and did not
terminate till sunrise.
Eight Spanish spies had been discovered in the houses, and three
arrested by the sentries at the moment when they attempted flight, or
eleven in all.
The Governor had them temporarily put in irons aboard the lugger, so
that they could not escape.
At sunrise, buccaneers, habitants, engagés, and filibusters, all armed
with spades, pickaxes, and hatchets, set about digging a trench round
the town.
This job, which was performed with extraordinary ardor, lasted three
days; the trench was twelve feet wide, by fifteen deep, and the earth
was thrown up on the side of the town; on this _talus_ stakes were
planted, bound together with strong iron bands, embrasures being left
to place guns, and for loopholes.
While the entire population thus laboured with the feverish ardor that
accomplishes prodigies, large clearings had been effected in the woods
surrounding the port; then the forest was fired, care being taken that
the fire should not extend beyond a demi-league in all directions.
These gigantic works, which, in ordinary times, would demand a
lengthened period, were finished at the end of ten days, which would
seem incredible were not the fact stated in several records worthy of
belief.
Port Margot was thus, thanks to the energy of its Governor, and the
passive obedience with which the filibusters executed his orders,
not only protected against a _coup de main_, but also rendered
capable of resisting a regular siege. And this had been effected with
such secrecy, that nothing had transpired abroad; and owing to the
precautions taken at the outset, the Spaniards had no suspicion of the
change so menacing to them, and which presaged an internecine war.
When the fortifications were finished, the Governor had eleven gallows
erected, at a certain distance from each other, on the glacis. The
unhappy Spanish spies were suspended from them, and their bodies were
fastened to the gallows by iron chains, so that, as Belle Tête said,
with an ill-omened smile, the sight of the corpses might terrify those
of their compatriots, who might be tempted to follow their example,
and introduce themselves into the town.
All the habitants were then convoked in the chief square, and Belle
Tête mounted a platform erected for the purpose, and announced to them
the determinations formed aboard the lugger, his nomination to the post
of Governor, the measures he had thought it his duty to take for the
general welfare, and ended by asking their approbation.
This approbation the inhabitants most willingly granted, because they
found themselves in presence of accomplished facts, which did not in
any way injure them.
The Governor, thus finding his undertakings sanctioned, invited the
inhabitants to nominate a council of seven members chosen from among
themselves; and this proposition they joyfully accepted, because they
justly anticipated that these councillors would defend their interests.
The seven municipal councillors were therefore elected at once, and, by
the Governor's invitation, took their seat by his side on the platform.
Then the Governor informed his audience that nothing was changed in the
colony, which would continue to be governed by the laws in force among
the filibusters, that everyone would live in the same liberty as in the
past, and that the measures taken were solely intended to protect the
interests of all, and in no way to annoy the colonists, or subject them
to a humiliating yoke.
This final assurance produced the best effect on the crowd, and the
Governor retired, amid shouts and the warmest protestations of devotion.
Although Montbarts had chosen to remain obstinately in the background,
all these ameliorations were solely due to him; Belle Tête had merely
been a passive and submissive agent in his hands.
When the Admiral, saw matters in the state he desired, he resolved
to depart, and after a final interview with the Governor, he placed
himself at the head of his filibusters, and left the town.
Michael the Basque had departed several hours previously, entrusted
with a secret mission, and accompanied by ninety resolute men.
From this moment the expedition commenced; but what its result would be
no one could as yet foretell.