Some hours passed quietly away at Mr Jefferson's country-house after
all the preparations had been made for the reception of their expected
assailants, and yet no enemy appeared.
Higson and the other leaders had some difficulty in bringing up their
forces to the attack. They had discovered that the house had been
fortified, and they were well aware that a victory could not be obtained
without a considerable loss to themselves. Higson had been on shore for
some weeks before these preparations were made. Sometimes his mind
misgave him, especially when he saw that the British troops in the
garrison were thoroughly disciplined, and always on the alert, and that
even a regiment of black troops, whom it was hoped might be gained over,
refused to desert their colours. The conspirators had then, not without
considerable risk, to send to the French and other enemies of England to
obtain their assistance. This was readily enough promised, but they
were told that they must themselves commence the rebellion, and that
then ample assistance would be forthcoming. At length Higson and his
associates gained courage, and they hoped by an attack on Mr
Jefferson's house, and by the capture of so many persons of consequence,
to obtain an influence over the rest of the people of the island, which
would at once give them the upper hand.
Several hours of the night had passed away; Lady Sophy and Lady Nora,
with the rest of the ladies, were advised to lie down, it being hoped,
that perhaps after all, an attack might not be made. Scouts were,
however, sent out to watch for the approaching enemy. At length two of
them came hurrying back, announcing that they heard the approach of feet
up from the sea. This was the most assailable side of the house. The
stream, which has been spoken of with its precipitous banks, circled
round two sides, while a high cliff, the summit of which was
inaccessible, formed another side of the grounds. In front also, the
ground sloped rapidly down, so that unless by steps, which had been
strongly barricaded, no one could approach up from the sea, even on that
side, without considerable difficulty. The Earl and his friends at
length observed through certain look-out places, which had been formed
on the roof of the upper story, that a large body of men were scaling
the hill in a somewhat irregular manner. At first they came on in
silence, but on a warm fire being opened upon them, they gave vent to
loud shouts and shrieks, and rushed as rapidly up the hill as the nature
of the ground would allow them. At the same time a number of persons in
the rear lighted torches, which they bore in their hands, and shook them
wildly about, as if to terrify those they came to attack. Perhaps also,
they believed that by this means they would distract the attention of
the besieged, and prevent them taking a steady aim at those in the
front. The sight of the torches raised in Mr Jefferson's mind an
apprehension which he had not before entertained. He knew too well the
combustible nature of his dwelling, and that if it entered the minds of
the rebels, they might without difficulty set the house on fire.
"If they do," he thought, "we must retreat by the back of the house and
defend ourselves under the cliffs. We may still perhaps be able to hold
our own against these fellows until assistance comes, but the poor
ladies, I tremble for them."
He did not, however, express these apprehensions to the Earl, but, like
a brave man, did his best to encourage those around him. As the enemy
approached, they opened a fire at the doors and windows of the house,
but as these had been well barricaded, the bullets fell harmlessly
against them. A considerable number of the rebels were soon struck
down, either killed or wounded. Those in the house did not fire until
the enemy approached near. The greater number of them were good
marksmen. All knew, likewise, that they fought for their lives, and for
the lives of those most dear to them. At length Barry proposed sallying
out and endeavouring to put the enemy to flight.
"The time may come for that by and by," said Mr Jefferson. "In the
meantime let us be content to hold our own till assistance can arrive
from the town, or till the rebels have discovered that they are
incapable of overcoming us."
The men who were waving the torches had hitherto not ventured near the
house, but had contented themselves with springing here and there and
attempting to dazzle the eyes of the besieged party. Higson, who had
himself hitherto kept under shelter, now began to fear that his allies
would give way, and the attack would altogether fail. He knew the
nature of buildings in the West Indies; and finding that the little
garrison were not likely to be overcome by the present mode of attack,
he determined to set fire to the house, and then to seize those who were
likely to prove most valuable to him, as they were escaping from the
burning building. He immediately issued an order to the men with
torches to rush forward, at the same time directing others to collect
all the dry brushwood they could find, and to pile it up in the
verandah. Those, however, who first advanced were received with so hot
a fire that several were killed or wounded, and the rest sought safety
in flight. Again and again Higson urged them to renew the attempt, and
finding this did not avail, he ordered the main body to retreat, greatly
to the relief of the garrison. The whole body of their enemies were
seen descending the hill, and they began to congratulate themselves that
they had gained an easy victory. No one had been killed within the
house, although several had been struck by bullets which had found their
way through the loop-holes or the too thinly planked windows.
The Earl and his friends were not left long in doubt about the
intentions of the rebels. In a short time they were seen rushing up the
hill again, numbers bearing bundles of reeds and other combustible
substances, and others flaming torches in their hands. In spite of the
hot fire with which they were received, they dashed forward and threw
the bundles into the verandah. Several fell in the attempt, but the
great mass persevered, and the men with the torches now advancing, cast
them amidst the heaps of brushwood. In a few seconds the whole was in a
blaze. The woodwork of the building soon caught fire, and it became
evident to the besieged that the house would not long be tenable.
Still, as long as any could remain on the front side, they continued to
fire at the rebels.
Mr Jefferson now called a Council of War, and explained to his friends
the plan he proposed for effecting their escape. The Earl agreed that
the undertaking was feasible, though they might be exposed to far
greater peril than they had hitherto been; still it was the only one,
since the house could no longer be held, for when once the flames had
gained entire possession of it, the negroes and Caribs would probably
make a dash forward through the fire and put all they could meet with to
death. Hitherto none of the rebels had ventured to go round to the rear
of the house. Indeed, when any had tried to pass by either of the
sides, they had met with so warm a fire that even the boldest had not
dared to proceed, while many had been struck down in the attempt.
"We must place the ladies in our centre and retreat to the cliff," said
Mr Jefferson.
Lord Fitz Barry and three or four of the men agreed suddenly to burst
open the door, and then lead the way in the direction Mr Jefferson had
indicated. The plan was adopted, while some of the men continued to
fire down upon their assailants.
The ladies were carried safely out, surrounded by an armed party, to the
rear of the house. Not until they had been placed in comparative safety
did the rest of the men withdraw from their now almost untenable
position. At length the whole front of the house was in flames. The
fire soon caught the rest of the building, and scarcely had the last
defender left it, than the combustible roof fell in with a loud crash.
The negroes shouted and shrieked with glee when they saw this, and
rushed forward, as had been anticipated, in the hopes of gaining an easy
victory over their now defenceless opponents.
Many of them were severely burnt, as they dashed forward into the
building, and were glad again quickly to retreat. Not till the whole
edifice was one blazing heap, did they discover that the inmates had
escaped them. By the light of the flames which continued burning
brightly, the negroes perceived the Lieutenant Governor and the planters
with their families posted at the side of the cliff.
For some time, warned by the treatment they had received, they hesitated
to advance, but at length Higson, animated by the success which had
already attended his efforts, rushed forward, calling to his men to
follow him, and made a dash towards the Earl. He thought that if he
could once get him into his power, the victory would be gained. The
negroes were perfectly ready to follow when others led, and thus a band
of shouting, shrieking wretches, advanced close to where the European
party had taken shelter. Already many had begun to climb the heights,
and a stout, black ruffian had actually got so close, that he was able
to lay his hand upon the Earl's shoulder. Higson shouted to the man to
drag forward the Governor, in order to make him prisoner. At that
moment Fitz Barry, seeing the danger that his father was in, sprang
forward to his rescue, and with a blow of his cutlass, compelled the man
to let go his hold. In the meantime, however, Higson, with the runaway
seamen, whom he had persuaded to follow him, made a dash at that part of
the terrace where the ladies were collected. The dawn had now broken,
so that they were soon found without the light from the burning house.
Lady Nora, seeing the approach of the ruffians, cried to her brother for
help. He, however, found himself surrounded by a number of blacks, who
pressed him so hard that he was unable to reach her. In the meantime
the planters continued to fire down upon their assailants, the great
body of whom were kept at bay. Higson at length turned, and ordered
more of his followers to come to his assistance. He had already seized
Lady Nora, well satisfied that should he fail to capture the Earl, she,
at all events, would prove a valuable prize. Two other ladies were also
carried off, and in vain did their defenders attempt by a bold dash to
rescue them. Higson, elated at his success, and at the same time
fearful lest the bullets which were flying about might strike any of his
captives, and probably glad himself to avoid them, made a wide circuit
to gain the sea-shore.
He was already separated from the main body of the insurgents, when
suddenly he was startled with a loud shout close to him, and before he
could turn round to defend himself, he was attacked by a body of seamen,
led on by a lieutenant. The increasing light revealed to him several of
his late shipmates, and the new lieutenant, Mr Denham. Surprised by
the attack, for the boat's crew had sprung upon them from behind a
thicket, Higson and his companions at once let go their captives. A
blow from the cutlass of one of the men brought him to the ground, while
the rest of his party--more than one half were either killed or
wounded--sought safety in flight. They were not far from the sea-shore.
"You must allow me, Lady Nora, to place you with the other ladies on
board the boat," said Denham. "You will there be in safety, and the
crew will row off to a short distance, while I, with the rest of my men,
go to the rescue of your father, and the remainder of the party." To
these plans Lady Nora willingly agreed, and in a few minutes she found
herself with her friends on board a man-of-war's boat, which, with four
men, pulled off out of gun-shot from the shore. Anxiously she watched
what was taking place, as far as she could see. Still the firing
continued, and Lieutenant Denham and his party hurrying again up the
hill, she soon lost sight of them amongst the woods. Deep was her
anxiety for her father and brother, and Lady Sophy, who remained with
the planters and their friends, while she could not help feeling anxious
for the risk to which the young lieutenant and his small party of men
were exposed, in the presence of so large a body of rebels.
The outhouses and other buildings on the estate had now caught fire, and
their flames showed the insurgents still clustering round the side of
the hill, though the continued discharge of musketry in the far
distance, made her hope that the Earl and his party were still defending
themselves. Now the fire of the English party seemed to slacken; now
more dark forms were seen climbing up the hill. Then again, the
defenders of the height increased their fire, and even at that distance
she fancied she could hear the shouts of the combatants. At length her
attention was drawn off the scene, by hearing one of the crew exclaim,
"Here comes the frigate," and she saw rising above a woody point on one
side of the bay, the snow white sails of the _Cynthia_, as close-hauled
she stood along the land. The sound of the firing must have reached
her. She immediately hauled into the bay. The anchor was dropped, the
sails furled, and several boats were seen to come off from her side. In
a short time the boats approached, and the men informed the officers in
them of the orders they had received from Lieutenant Denham, adding that
they had three ladies in their boat. "Take the ladies to the frigate,"
answered one of the officers; "give way, my lads, there is no time to be
lost." The boats dashed on. Nora thanked Heaven for their arrival,
hoping by this means those she dearly loved might be saved, as well as
those friends, whose hospitality they had been enjoying. The boats
quickly reached the beach, and the men, all well armed, dashed forward
up the hill, led by their officers. Attacking the enemy fiercely in the
flank, the latter, who had apparently not seen their approach, were
taken by surprise. Those who resisted were cut down, the rest taking to
flight along the shore. No one stopped to look behind him or see what
had become of his neighbour. The seamen quickly scaled the heights, and
reached the spot where the Earl and his party still held their position.
Unhappily several had been badly wounded, among whom were two of the
ladies, and three or four planters, while others had been killed. Of
the insurgents, a very considerable number had been struck down. The
wounded now began to utter loud shrieks and groans, to excite the
commiseration of their conquerors. At present, however, little could be
done for them. Those of the English who had been wounded were at once
conveyed on board the frigate, where they could receive medical
treatment. Indeed so alarmed had the planters become, that they
requested that they and their families might be taken on board with the
Earl. The frigate lay at anchor in the bay. As soon as those who had
been wounded on the side of the planters had been cared for, the
assistant-surgeon with a boat's crew was humanely sent on shore, to
attend to the unhappy blacks and Caribs who had been hurt. A few had in
the meantime crawled off. Others had died, but still a considerable
number remained and required attention. Among the dead was found the
unhappy Higson. No one knew what could have induced him to join in so
mad a scheme, but those who had watched his conduct on board were not
surprised at his behaviour.
On the return of the frigate to the chief town, it was found that the
garrison had been warned in time. A considerable number of troops had
marched unmolested through the country, visiting the places which were
said to be most disaffected, and in a few days the rebel forces had
completely melted away. A few men who were caught and accused of
leading the rebellion suffered the penalty of death, others had managed
to make their escape from the island. It was found, however, that they
had been instigated to the rebellion by foreign emissaries, and even the
captive rebels themselves acknowledged they had few causes of complaint
against the English government.