The negroes were delighted at the success of the conflict; as were
the Indians, who soon joined them. But ten of the Spaniards had
escaped, the rest having fallen; either in the gorge, killed by the
rocks, or in the subsequent fight.
Ned and Gerald, who were now looked upon as the leaders of the
party, told the negroes to collect the arms of the fallen men, and
to give a hasty burial to their bodies. The boys knew, too well,
the savage nature of the war which raged, between the black and the
white, to ask whether any of the Spaniards were only wounded. They
knew that an instant death had awaited all who fell into the hands
of their late slaves.
"Now," Ned said, "my friends, you must not suppose that your
fighting is over. The Spaniards will take the news back to the
town, and it is likely enough that we shall have a large force upon
us, in the course of a few days. I do not suspect that they will
come before that time. Indeed, it may be far longer, for they know
that it will require a very large force to search these woods; and
that, now our blood is up, it will be no trifle to overcome us in
our stronghold. If we are to succeed at last, labor, discipline,
and courage will all be required."
The negroes now besought the boys formally to take the command, and
promised to obey their orders, implicitly.
"Well," Ned said, "if you promise this, we will lead you. My friend
is older than I; and he shall be captain, and I will be first
lieutenant."
"No, no," Gerald said. "This must not be, Ned. I am the oldest, it
is true, by a few months; but you are far more active and quick
than I, and you have been the leader, ever since we left the ship.
I certainly will not take the command from you."
"Well, we will be joint generals," Ned said, laughing; "and I do
not think that our orders will clash."
He then explained, to the negroes and natives, the course which he
thought that they ought to pursue. First, every point at which the
enemy could be harassed should be provided with missiles. In the
second place, all signs of footsteps and paths leading to their
accustomed dwelling places should be obliterated. Thirdly, they
should fight as little as possible; it being their object to fight
when pursued and interfered with by small parties of Spaniards, but
to avoid conflict with large bodies.
"Our object," he said, "is to live free and unmolested here; and if
the Spanish find that, when they come in large numbers, they cannot
overtake us; and that, when they come in small ones, they are
defeated with loss; they will take to leaving us alone."
All agreed to this policy; and it was arranged that the women,
children, and most feeble of the natives should retire to almost
inaccessible hiding places, far in the mountains; and that the more
active spirits, with the negroes, and divided into five or six
bands, acting to some extent independently of each other, but yet
in accordance with a general plan, should remain to oppose the
passage of the enemy.
This, their first success over the Spaniards, caused a wild
exultation among the negroes and natives; and Ned and Gerald were
viewed as heroes. The lads took advantage of their popularity to
impress upon the negroes the necessity of organizing themselves,
and undergoing certain drill and discipline; without it, as they
told them, although occasionally they might succeed in driving back
the Spaniards, yet in the long run they must be defeated. It was
only by fighting with regularity, like trained soldiers, that they
would make themselves respected by the Spaniards; and the latter,
instead of viewing them as wild beasts to be hunted, would regard
them with respect.
The negroes, fresh from a success gained by irregular means, were
at first loath to undertake the trouble and pains which the boys
desired; but the latter pointed out that it was not always that the
enemy were to be caught napping, and that after such a check as had
been put upon them, the Spaniards would be sure to come in greater
numbers, and to be far more cautious how they trusted themselves
into places where they might be caught in a trap.
The weapons thrown away or left upon the ground, by the Spaniards,
were divided among the negroes; and these and the natives were now
formed into companies, natives and negroes being mixed in each
company, so that the latter might animate the former by their
example. Four companies, of forty men, each were formed; and for
the next fortnight incessant drill went on, by which time the
forest fugitives began to have a fair notion of the rudimentary
elements of drill. When the boys were not engaged upon this, in
company with one of the native chiefs they examined the mountains,
and at last fixed upon a place which should serve as the last
stronghold, should they be driven to bay by the enemy.
It was three weeks before there were any signs of the Spaniards. At
the end of that time a great smoke, rising from the signal hill,
proclaimed that a large body of the enemy were approaching the
forest. This was expected; for, two days before, three negro
runaways had taken shelter with them.
The negroes had been armed with long pikes of tough wood, sharpened
in the fire, and capable of inflicting fully as deadly a wound as
those carried by the Spaniards. Each carried a club, the leaders
being armed with the swords taken from the Spaniards; while there
were also eight arquebuses, which had been gained from the same
source. All the natives bore bows and arrows, with which they were
able to shoot with great accuracy. The negroes were not skilled
with these weapons; but were more useful, from their greater
strength, for hurling down rocks and missiles upon the Spaniards,
when below.
A consultation had been previously held, as to the course to be
taken in case of the approach of the enemy. It was determined as
far as possible to avoid fighting, to allow the Spaniards to tramp
from place to place, and then to harass them by falling upon them
in the night, disturbing their sleep, cutting down sentries; and
harassing them until they were forced, by pure exhaustion, to leave
the forest.
These tactics were admirably adapted to the nature of the contest.
The only thing which threatened to render them nugatory was the
presence of the fierce dogs of the Spaniards. Preparations had
already been made for checking the bloodhounds in pursuit of
fugitive slaves. In a narrow place, in one of the valleys at the
entrance of the forest, a somewhat heavy gallery had been erected.
This was made of wood heaped with great stones, and was so arranged
that any animal running through it would push aside a stick, which
acted as a trigger. This would release a lever, and the heavy logs
above would fall, crushing to death anything beneath it. A lookout
was always placed to intercept any fugitive slaves who might enter
the forest, and to guide them through this trap; which was, of
course, not set until after they had passed. This had been done in
the case of the two negroes who had arrived the previous day, and
the boys felt that any pursuit of them by bloodhounds would at once
be cut short, and the Spaniards left to their own devices.
This anticipation proved correct. The scouts reported that they
could hear, in the distance, the baying of dogs; and that,
undoubtedly, the enemy were proceeding on the track of the slaves.
The four companies were each told off, to positions considerably
apart from each other; while Ned and Gerald, with the cacique, or
chief, of the Indians, one negro, and four or five fleet-footed
young men, remained to watch the success of the trap.
This was all that they had hoped. The Spaniards were seen coming up
the glade, a troop two hundred strong. The leaders were on
horseback, some fifteen in number; and after them marched the
pikemen, in steady array, having men moving at a distance on each
flank, to prevent surprise.
"This," said Ned, "is a regular military enterprise. The last was a
mere pursuing party, gathered at random. It will not be so easy to
deal with cautious men, like these."
Three hounds ran ahead of the leaders, with their noses on the
ground, giving now and then the deep bay peculiar to their kind.
They reached the trap, and rushed into the gallery, which was some
twelve feet in length, and of sufficient height to enable a man on
foot to march through.
The leaders, on seeing the trap, drew in their horses, in doubt
what this structure could mean, and shouted to the hounds to stop.
But the latter, having the scent strong in their nostrils, ran on
without pausing. As the last hound disappeared in the gallery, a
crash was heard, and the whole erection collapsed, crushing the
hounds beneath it.
A cry of consternation and surprise burst from the Spaniards. The
artifice was a new one, and showed that the fugitives were assisted
by men with intellect far in advance of their own. The pursuit was
summarily checked, for the guides of the Spaniards were now gone.
The enemy paused, and a consultation took place among the leaders.
It was apparently determined to pursue their way alone, taking
every precaution, in hopes that the natives would attack them as
they had done the previous expedition; when they hoped to inflict a
decisive blow upon them. That they would, themselves, be able to
find the run-away negroes in the forest they had but small hope;
but they thought it possible that these would again take the
initiative.
First, under the guidance of one who had evidently been in the last
expedition, they took their way to the valley where the fight had
taken place. Here all was still. There were no signs of their foes.
They found, in the gorge, a great cairn of stones; with a wooden
cross placed over it, and the words in Spanish cut upon it:
"Here lie the bodies of ten Spaniards, who sought to attack
harmless men in these woods. Let their fate be a lesson to those
who may follow their example."
This inscription caused great surprise among the Spaniards, who
gathered round the mound and conversed earnestly upon it; looking
round at the deep and silent woods, which might, for ought they
knew, contain foes who had proved themselves formidable. It was
evident that the soldiers, brave as they were, yet felt misgivings
as to the task upon which they had entered. They knew that two
Englishmen, a portion of the body which, under Drake, had rendered
themselves so feared, were leaders of these men; and so great was
the respect in which the English were at that time held, that this,
alone, vastly added to the difficulties and dangers which the
Spaniards saw awaiting them.
However, after a few minutes' consultation the party moved forward.
It was now formed in two bodies, about equally strong; one going a
quarter of a mile ahead, the other following it.
"What have these men divided their forces for?" the negro asked
Ned.
"It seems to me," he answered, "that they hope we shall fall upon
the first body, thinking that there are no more behind; and that
the others, coming up in the midst of the fight, will take us by
surprise. However, we will let them march.
"Send word, to the company which lies somewhat in the line which
they have taken, of their approach; and let them at once retire.
Tell them to make circuits in the hills, but to leave behind them
sufficient traces for the Spaniards to follow. This will encourage
them to keep on, and by nightfall they will be thoroughly tired
out.
"Whenever they get in valleys, or other places where advantage may
be taken of them, two of the companies shall accompany them, at a
good distance on their flanks; and pour in volleys of arrows, or
roll stones down upon them. I will take command of one of these
companies, Gerald of the other.
"Do you," he said to the negro, "follow with the last. Keep out of
their reach; but occasionally, after they have passed, fire arrows
among the rear guard.
"Do you, cacique, make your way to the leading column. See that
they choose the most difficult gorges; and give, as far as
possible, the appearance of hurry to their flight, so as to
encourage the Spaniards to follow."
These tactics were faithfully carried out. All day the Spaniards
followed, as they believed, close upon the footsteps of the flying
foe; but from time to time, from strong advantage spots, arrows
were rained upon them, great rocks thundered down, and wild yells
rang through the forest. Before, however, they could ascend the
slopes and get hand to hand with their enemy, these had retreated,
and all was silent as the grave in the woods.
Perplexed, harassed, and somewhat awe-struck by these new and
inexplicable tactics; and having lost many men, by the arrows and
stones of the enemy, the two troops gathered at nightfall in an
open glade. Here a bivouac was formed, branches of the trees cut
down, and the provisions which each had brought with him produced.
A rivulet ran through the glade, and the weary troops were soon
lying on the grass, a strong line of sentries having been placed
round.
Already the appearance of the troop was greatly changed from that
of the body which had entered the wood. Then all were eager for the
fray; confident in the extreme of their power to crush, with ease,
these unarmed negroes and natives, who had hitherto, except on the
last occasion, fled like hunted deer at their approach. Now,
however, this feeling was checked. They had learned that the enemy
were well commanded, and prepared; and that so far, while they
themselves had lost several men, not a native had been so much as
seen by them.
At nightfall the air became alive with mysterious noises; cries as
of animals, occasionally Indian whoops, shouts from one voice to
another were heard all around. The Spaniards stood to their arms,
and gazed anxiously into the darkness.
Soon the shouts of the sentries told that flights of arrows were
being discharged at them, by invisible foes. Volley after volley
were fired, from the musketoons and arquebuses, into the wood.
These were answered by bursts of taunting laughter, and mocking
yells, while the rain of arrows continued.
The Spanish troops, whose position and figures could be seen by the
blaze of the lighted fires, while a dense darkness reigned within
the forest, began to suffer severely from the arrows of these
unseen foes. Bodies, fifty strong, advanced into the dark forest to
search out their enemies; but they searched in vain. The Indians,
better accustomed to the darkness, and knowing the forest well,
easily retreated as they advanced; and the Spaniards dared not
venture far from their fires, for they feared being lost in the
forest.
The officer commanding, an old and experienced soldier, soon ceased
these useless sorties. Calling his men into the center of the
glade; he ordered them to stand in readiness to repel an assault,
extinguished every fire, and allowed half the troop at once to lie
down, to endeavor to snatch some sleep. This, however, was
impossible; for although the Indians did not venture upon an
attack, the chorus of shouts and yells was so terrible and
continuous, and the flights of arrows at times fell so fast, that
not one of the troop ventured to close an eye.
From time to time volleys were fired into the darkness; and once or
twice a loud cry told that some, at least, of the balls had taken
effect; but the opponents, sheltered each behind the trunk of a
tree, suffered comparatively slightly, while many of the Spaniards
were struck by their missiles.
Morning dawned upon a worn-out and dispirited band, but with
daylight their hopes revived. Vigorous sorties were made into the
wood; and though these discovered, in a few places, marks of blood
where some of their enemies had fallen, and signs of a party being
carried away, the woods were now as deserted as they had appeared
to be on the previous evening, when they first halted.
There was a consultation among the leaders, and it was determined
to abandon the pursuit of these invisible foes, as it was agreed
that nothing, short of a great effort by the whole available force
of the island, would be sufficient to cope with a foe whose tactics
were so bewildering and formidable.
Upon their march out from the wood, the troop was pursued with the
same persistence with which it had been dogged on the preceding
day; and when at length it emerged, and the captain counted the
numbers of his men, it was found that there were no less than
thirty wounded, and that twenty had been left behind, dead.
The dwellers of the wood were overjoyed with their success, and
felt that a new existence had opened before them. Hitherto they had
been fugitives only, and no thought of resistance to the Spaniards
had ever entered their minds. They felt now that, so long as they
remained in the woods, and maintained their drill and discipline,
and persisted in the tactics which they had adopted, they could
defy the Spaniards; unless, indeed, the latter came in overwhelming
strength.
Some time elapsed before any fresh effort was made by the
Spaniards. The affair caused intense excitement in the city, and it
is difficult to say whether alarm, or rage, most predominated. It
was felt that a great effort must be made, to crush the men of the
forest; for unless this were done, a vast number of the negro
slaves would escape and join them, and the movement would become
more formidable, every day.
Upon the part of those in the forest, great consultations took
place. Some of the negroes were for sending messages to the slaves
to rise and join them, but Ned and Gerald strongly opposed this
course. There were, as they pointed out, no means whatever in the
forest for supporting a larger body of men than those gathered
there. The tree-clad hills which constituted their stronghold were
some thirty miles in diameter; and the supply of fruits, of roots,
and of birds were sufficient for their wants; but it would be very
different, were their numbers largely increased. Then they would be
forced to make raids upon the cultivated ground beyond; and here,
however strong, they would be no match for the Spaniards, whose
superior arms and discipline would be certain to give them victory.
The Indians strongly supported the reasoning of the boys, and the
negroes, when they fully understood the difficulties which would
arise, finally acquiesced in their arguments.
Schemes were broached for making sallies from the forest, at night,
and falling upon the plantations of the Spaniards. This offered
greater chances of success, but the boys foresaw that all sorts of
atrocities would be sure to take place, and that no quarter would
be given to Spaniards of either age or sex. They therefore combated
vigorously this proposal, also. They pointed out that, so long as
they remained quiet in the forest, and were not joined by large
numbers of fugitive negroes, the Spaniards might be content to let
them remain unmolested; but upon the contrary, were they to adopt
offensive tactics, not only would every Spaniard in the island take
up arms against them, but if necessary they would send for help to
the neighboring islands, and would assemble a force sufficient
thoroughly to search the woods, and to annihilate them.
The only case in which the boys considered that an attack upon the
Spaniards would be lawful, would be in the event of fresh
expeditions being organized. In that case, they were of opinion
that it would be useful to destroy one or two large mansions and
plantations, as near as possible to the town; sending at the same
time a message to the Spaniards that, if they persisted in
disturbing them in the forest, a similar fate would befall every
Spanish plantation situated beyond the town.
It was not long before these tactics were called into play. One of
the negroes had, as was their custom, gone down to the town, to
purchase such articles as were indispensable. Upon these occasions,
as usual, he went down to the hut of the old woman who acted as
their intermediary; and remained concealed there, during the day,
while she went into the town, to buy cotton for dresses, and other
things. This she could only do in small quantities at a time, using
various shops for the purpose; returning each time, with her
parcel, to the hut.
The suspicion of the Spaniards had, however, been aroused; and
orders had been given to watch her closely. The consequence was
that, after purchasing a few articles, she was followed; and a band
of soldiers surrounded the hut, after she had entered. The fugitive
was there found concealed, and he and the old woman were at once
fastened in the hut. This was then set alight, and they were burned
to death, upon the spot.
When the news reached the mountains, Ned at once determined upon a
reprisal. The negroes and natives were alike ready to follow him,
and the next night the whole party, a hundred and fifty strong,
marched down from the forest. The object of their attack was a
handsome palace, belonging to the military governor of the island,
situated at a short distance from the town.
Passing through the cultivated country, noiselessly and without
detection, they reached the mansion and surrounded it. There were,
here, a guard of some thirty soldiers, and sentries were placed at
the entrance.
At the signal, given by the blowing of a conch shell, the attack
commenced on all sides. The sentries were at once shot down, and
the negroes and their allies speedily penetrated into the building.
The Spanish guard fought with great bravery, but they were
overpowered by the infuriated negroes. Yells, shrieks, and shouts
of all kinds resounded through the palace.
Before starting on their adventure, Ned and Gerald had exacted a
solemn oath, from each of the men who were to take part in it, that
on no account would he lift his hand against a defenseless person;
and also that he spare everybody who surrendered. The negroes were
greatly loath to take this promise, and had Ned urged them to do so
purely for the sake of humanity, the oath would unquestionably have
been refused; for in those days of savage warfare, there was little
or no mercy shown on either side. It was only on the ground of
expediency, and the extreme necessity of not irritating the
Spaniards beyond a certain point, that he succeeded in obtaining
their promise.
In the principal room of the palace they found the governor,
himself. His sword was in his hand, and he was prepared to defend
his life to the last. The boys, however, rushed forward; and cried
to him to throw his sword down, as the only plan by which his life
could be saved. The brave officer refused, answering by a vigorous
thrust.
In a moment the two lads had sprung upon him, one from each side,
and wrested his sword from his hand. The negroes, with yells of
triumph, were rushing upon him with drawn swords; but the boys
sternly motioned them back, keeping well in front of their
prisoner.
"You have sworn," they said, "and the first man who breaks his oath
we will shoot through the head."
Then, turning to the governor they said:
"Sir, you see what these men, whom you have so long hunted as wild
beasts, can do. Take warning from this, and let all in the town
know the determination to which we have arrived. If we are let
alone, we will let others alone. We promise that no serious
depredations, of any kind, shall be performed by any of our party
in the forest; but if we are molested, or if any of our band who
may fall into your hands are ill treated, we swear that, for each
drop of blood slain, we will ravage a plantation and destroy a
house.
"On this occasion, as you see, the negroes have abstained from
shedding blood; but our influence over them may not avail, in
future. Now that you see that we too can attack, you may think fit
to leave us alone. In case of serious interference with us, we will
lay waste the land, up to the houses of the city; and destroy every
plantation, and hacienda."
Then they hurried the governor to a back entrance, gave him his
sword again and, having seen him in safety, fairly beyond the reach
of any of their party who might be wandering about, dismissed him.
Returning to the palace, they had to exert themselves to the utmost
to prevail on the negroes to spare all who were there. Indeed, one
man, who refused to obey Ned's orders and to lower his club, he
shot down at once.
This vigorous act excited, for a moment, yells of indignation among
the rest; but the firm bearing of the two young Englishmen, and the
knowledge that they were acting as they themselves had given them
leave to act, should any of the party break their oaths, subdued
them into silence.
The palace was now stripped of all portable and useful articles.
Ned would not permit anything to be carried away of a merely
ornamental or valuable character; but only such as kitchen
utensils, crockery, stoves, arms, hangings, and articles of a
description that would be useful to them, in their wild life in the
forest. The quantity of arms taken was considerable as, in addition
to those belonging to the guard, there were a considerable number
piled in the armory, in readiness for any occasion when they might
be required.
When all that could be useful to them was removed, lights were
applied to the hangings and wooden lattice work; and, before they
retired, they saw the flames take sufficient possession of the
building to ensure its destruction.
Many of the negroes had at first laden themselves with wine, but
this Ned peremptorily refused to allow them to carry away. He knew
that it was of the most supreme necessity that good fellowship, and
amity, should run between the members of the bands; and that, were
wine to be introduced, quarrels might arise which would, in the
end, prove fatal to all. He allowed, however, sufficient to be
taken away to furnish a reasonable share for each man, at the feast
which it was only natural they would wish to hold, in commemoration
of their victory.