CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
The schooner was now directed towards the stranger, and before very
long they saw that her course had been changed, and that she was now
bearing down upon them. Zac stood at the helm saying nothing, but
keeping his eyes fixed upon the frigate, which drew nearer and
nearer, till finally she came near enough for her flag to be plainly
seen. They had been right in their conjectures, and the new comer was
a French frigate. This assurance seemed to open the mouth of Zac.
"I must say," he remarked to Claude, "the nearer I get to her, the
less I like it. I've met Moosoo before this on the high seas, but I
allus went on the plan of keepin' out of his way. This here system of
goin' right into his jaws don't suit me at all."
"O, come now," said Claude, "don't begin again. I thought you'd given
up all anxiety. There's not the slightest occasion for being worried
about it. I'll find out whether they can take me to Louisbourg, and
so I'll leave you, and you'll get back to Boston quicker than if you
took me where you first proposed."
"Yes; but suppose she's goin' to France, and chooses to take me
prisoner?" said Zac.
"O, nonsense!" said Claude. "They couldn't. What, after saving so
many lives, and conveying these rescued fellow-countrymen to their
own flag, do you suppose they could think of arresting you? Nonsense!
The thing's impossible."
Zac said no more, but was evidently ill at ease, and in his own mind
there was no end of dark forebodings as to the event of this meeting.
These forebodings were in no way lessened as the schooner rounded to
under the lee of the frigate, and Zac saw a row of guns heavy enough
to blow him and his "Parson" to atoms. The frigate did not wait for
the schooner to send a boat aboard, for her own boat was all ready,
and soon appeared, well manned, rowing towards the schooner. On
coming alongside, the officer in command stepped on board, and Claude
at once went forward to meet him. Cazeneau also walked forward with
the same purpose.
Claude politely raised his hat, and the officer civilly returned his
greeting.
"This, monsieur, is the schooner Amos Adams, of Boston. We have
recently picked up the survivors of His Royal French Majesty's
frigate 'Arethuse,' which has been lost at sea, and we have come to
see whether you could take them. Will you have the goodness to tell
me where you are going?"
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the officer, "the Arethuse lost! Is it
possible? What a terrible misfortune! And she had on board the new
commandant for Louisbourg."
At this Cazeneau came forward.
"He is safe, monsieur, for I am he."
The officer respectfully removed his hat, and bowed very low.
"What ship is this?" asked Cazeneau, in the tone of a superior.
"L'Aigle," replied the officer.
"Where are you bound?"
"To Brest. We have just been cruising to the different settlements
and forts on the Bay of Fundy, with some supplies which were sent
from Louisbourg."
"Ah! And you are now on your return to France?"
"Yes."
"Who commands your ship?"
"Captain Ducrot."
"Ah! Very good. You see, monsieur," said Cazeneau to Claude, "this
ship is bound to France; and that destination will not suit any of
us. I think I had better go aboard and see the captain, with whom I
may have some little influence. Perhaps, as my command is an
important one, he may be persuaded to alter his course, and land us
at Louisbourg, or some other place.--And so, monsieur," he continued,
turning to the officer, "I shall be obliged to you if you will put me
aboard the Aigle."
The officer assured him that the boat was altogether at his service;
whereupon Cazeneau stepped aboard, followed by the officer, and in a
short time the boat was on its way back to the frigate. Claude
watched this in silence, and without any misgivings. It seemed to him
quite natural, and, indeed, the best thing that could be done, under
the circumstances. If the ship was going to France, she could not be
of service to them; but if her captain could be induced to change his
course and land them at Louisbourg, this would be exactly what they
wanted; and Cazeneau seemed to be the only one on board who was at
all likely to persuade the captain of the Aigle to do such a thing as
this.
It seemed a long time before any further notice was taken of the
schooner. Meanwhile, all on board were watching the frigate with much
anxiety, and wondering what the result would be. In any case it did
not seem a matter of very great importance to any one; for the
lieutenant and the two sailors, who might have been most concerned,
were very well treated on board the schooner,--better, perhaps, than
they would be on board a frigate,--and evinced no particular desire
to leave. The priest said nothing; and to him, as well as to Claude,
there was nothing to be gained by taking to the ship. As for the aged
Laborde, he was still too weak to take any notice of events going on
around him; while Mimi, perhaps, found herself as well situated here,
under the care of Claude, as she could possibly be on the larger
ship, under the care of one who might be less agreeable. Claude
himself would certainly have preferred letting things remain as they
were. The situation was very pleasant. Mimi's occasional
companionship seemed sweeter than anything he had ever known; and, as
he was master on board, he naturally had a certain right to show her
attentions; which right he could not have under other circumstances.
He would have liked to see Cazeneau take his departure for good,
together with the French sailors, leaving Laborde and Mimi on board
the schooner. Finally, Zac was not at all pleased with anything in
his present situation. The thought of possible foul play never left
his mind for an instant; and though the blow was delayed for a
considerable time, he could not help feeling sure that it would fall.
During this period of waiting, the aged Laborde had been brought up
on deck, and placed there on a seat. This was done from a hope which
Mimi had that he would be benefited by the excitement of the change.
The sight of the ship, however, produced but little effect of any
kind upon the languid and worn-out old man. He gave an indifferent
glance at the frigate and the surrounding scene, and then subsided
into himself, while Mimi in vain strove to rouse him from his
indifference.
At last their suspense came to an end, and they saw preparations
making for another visit to the schooner. This time a second boat was
lowered, which was filled with marines. The sight of this formidable
boat's crew produced on Claude an impression of surprise; while in
Zac it enforced a conviction that his worst fears were now to be
realized.
"Look thar!" said he in a hoarse whisper. "Now you see what's a
comin'! Good by, poor old Parson! Yer in the claws of the Philistines
now, an' no mistake."
To this Claude made no reply, for he began to feel rather perplexed
himself, and to imagine that Cazeneau might have been playing him
false. All that Mimi had said about him now came to his mind, and the
armed boat's crew seemed like the first act of a traitor. He tried to
account for this in some other way, but was not able. He could no
longer laugh away Zac's fears. He could only be still and wait.
The two boats rowed towards the schooner. Cazeneau was not in either
of them. He had remained on board. At length one of the boats touched
the schooner, and the same officer who had visited her before again
stepped on board.
"Is the Count de Laborde here?" he asked.
Claude pointed to where the old man was seated. The officer advanced,
and removed his hat with a bow to the old count, and another to the
beautiful Mimi.
"Monsieur le Comte," said he, "I have the honor to convoy to you the
compliments of Captain Ducrot, with the request that you would honor
him with your company on board the Aigle. His excellency the Comte de
Cazeneau, commandant of Louisbourg, has persuaded him to convey
himself, and you, and some others, to the nearest French fort. It is
the intention of Captain Ducrot to sail back up the Bay of Fundy, and
land you at Grand Pre, from which place you can reach Louisbourg by
land."
To this Laborde murmured a few indistinct words in reply, while Mimi
made no remark whatever. She was anxious to know what Claude was
intending to do. The officer now turned away to the others.
"My instructions," said he, "are, to convey the invitation of Captain
Ducrot to Monsieur l'Abbe Michel and Lieutenant d'Angers, whom he
will be happy to receive on board the Aigle, and convey them to Grand
Pre, or France. The two seamen of the Arethuse will also go on board
and report themselves."
The officer now went back to Laborde, and offered, to assist him. The
old man rose, and taking his arm, walked feebly towards the vessel's
side, whence he descended into the boat, and was assisted to the
stern by the seamen. The officer then assisted Mimi to a place by her
father's side, anticipating Claude, who stepped forward with the
offer of his assistance. Then followed Pere Michel, and Lieutenant
d'Angers, of the Arethuse; then Margot; and, finally, the two seamen.
Meanwhile nothing was said to Claude. He was not included in the
compliments of Captain Ducrot, nor was any notice taken of him in any
way. He could not help feeling slighted and irritated at the whole
proceeding. To himself and to Zac this whole party owed their lives,
and they were all leaving him now with no more regard for him than if
he were, a perfect stranger. But the fact was, the whole party took
it for granted that he and Zac would be invited on board, and that
they would see them both again, and supposed that they were coming in
the same boat. Mimi and Pere Michel both thought that Claude, at
least, was going with them; for he had told them both that he was
going to leave the schooner and send Zac home.
But Claude's feelings were somewhat embittered by this whole
incident, and were destined to be still more so before it was all
over.
The lieutenant remained on board. The boat rowed back to the Aigle,
carrying the passengers above named, after which the lieutenant
motioned to the other boat. This one moved alongside, and a
half-dozen armed seamen stepped on board.
"Monsieur," said the lieutenant, advancing to Claude, "I hope you
will pardon me for being the instrument in a very unpleasant duty. I
am pained to inform you that you are my prisoner, on the command of
his excellency the commandant of Louisbourg, whose instructions I am
ordered to fulfil. I deeply regret this painful necessity, and most
sincerely hope that it may prove only a temporary inconvenience."
At this Claude was so astounded that for some time he could only
stare at the officer, without being able to utter a syllable. At
length he said,--
"What, monsieur! A prisoner? You must be mistaken! And who--The
commandant of Louisbourg--is not that the Count de Cazeneau?"
"It is."
"But, monsieur, it must be a mistake. I have never injured him or any
one. I have done nothing but good to him. My friend here, the captain
of this schooner, and I, saved his life; and we have treated him with
the utmost kindness since he was on board here. Finally, we sailed
towards you, and put ourselves in your power, solely that these
shipwrecked passengers, of whom the Count de Cazeneau was one, might
reach their friends sooner. How, then, can he possibly mean to arrest
me?"
"Monsieur, I assure you that it grieves mo most deeply," said the
officer--"most exquisitely. I know all this--all, and so does Captain
Ducrot; but there is no mistake, and it must be."
"But what authority has he here, and why should your captain do his
orders?"
"Monsieur, I am only a subordinate, and I know nothing but my orders.
At the same time, you must know that the commandant of Louisbourg has
general control, by land and sea, and is my captain's superior."
Claude made no reply. He saw that this man was but, as he said, a
subordinate, and was only obeying his orders. But the officer had
something still on his mind. His words and his looks all showed that
the present business was exceedingly distasteful to him, and that he
was only doing it under pressure.
"Monsieur," said he, after a pause, "I have another painful duty to
perform. I am ordered to take possession of this schooner, as a prize
of war, and take the captain and crew as prisoners of war."
At this Claude stared at the officer once more, utterly stupefied.
"Mon Dieu!" he cried, at length. "Are you a Frenchman? Is your
captain a French gentleman? Do you know, monsieur, what you are
doing? We have saved some shipwrecked Frenchmen; we have carried them
to a place of safety; and for this we are arrested! This honest man,
the captain, might expect a reward for his generosity; and what does
he get? Why, he is seized as a prisoner of war, and his schooner is
made a prize! Is there any chivalry left in France? Are these the
acts of Frenchmen? Great Heavens! Has it come to this?"
"Monsieur," said the officer, "be calm, I implore you. All this gives
me the most exquisite distress. But I must obey orders."
"You are right," said Claude. "You are a subordinate. I am wasting
words to talk with you. Take me to your captain, or to the Count de
Cazeneau. Let me learn what it is that induces him to act towards us
with such unparalleled baseness."
"Monsieur, I shall be happy to do all that I can. I will take you to
the Aigle,--under guard,--and you will be a prisoner there. I hope
that his excellency will accord you the favor of an interview."
All this time Zac had been a silent spectator of the scene. He had
not understood the words that were spoken, but he had gathered the
general meaning of this scene from the gestures and expression of the
two speakers. The presence, also, of the armed guard was enough to
show him that the blow which he dreaded had fallen. And now, since
the worst had happened, all his uneasiness departed, and he resumed
all the vigor of his mind. He at once decided upon the best course to
follow, and that course was to be emphatically one of quiet, and
calmness, and cool watchfulness. Claude had become excited at this
event; Zac had become cool.
"Wal," said he, advancing towards Claude, "it's just as I said. I
allus said that these here frog-eatin' Frenchmen wan't to be trusted;
and here, you see, I was right. I see about how it is. The poor,
unfort'nate Parson's done for, an' I'm in for it, too, I s'pose."
Claude turned, and gave Zac a look of indescribable distress.
"There's some infernal villain at work, Zac," said he, "out of the
common course, altogether. I'm arrested myself."
"You? Ah!" said Zac, who did not appear to be at all surprised. "You
don't say so! Wal, you've got the advantage of me, since you can
speak their darned lingo. So they've gone an' 'rested you, too--have
they?"
"It's that infernal Cazeneau," said Claude; "and I haven't got the
faintest idea why."
"Cazeneau, is it? O, well," said Zac, "they're all alike. It's my
opinion that it's the captain of the frigate, an' he's doin' it in
Cazeneau's name. Ye see he's ben a cruisin' about, an' hankers after
a prize; an' I'm the only one he's picked up. You're
'rested--course--as one of the belongin's of the Parson. You an' I
an' the hull crew: that's it! We're all prisoners of war!"
"O, no," said Claude. "It isn't that, altogether; there's some deeper
game."
"Pooh!" said Zac; "the game ain't a deep one, at all; it's an
every-day game. But I must say it is hard to be done for jest because
we had a leetle too much hooman feelin'. Now, ef we'd only let them
Frenchies rot and drown on their raft,--or ef we'd a' taken them as
prisoners to Boston,--we'd ben spared this present tribulation."
Zac heaved a sigh as he said this, and turned away. Then a sudden
thought struck him.
"O, look here," said he; "jest ask 'em one thing, as a partiklar
favor. You needn't mention me, though. It's this. Ask 'em if they
won't leave me free--that is, I don't want to be handcuffed."
"Handcuffed!" exclaimed Claude, grinding his teeth in futile rage.
"They won't dare to do that!"
"O, you jest ask this Moosoo, as a favor. They needn't object."
Upon this Claude turned to the officer.
"Monsieur," said he, "I have a favor to ask. I and my friend here are
your prisoners, but we do not wish to be treated with unnecessary
indignity or insult. I ask, then, that we may be spared the insult of
being bound. Our offence has not been great. Wo have only saved the
lives of six of your fellow-countrymen. Is it presumption to expect
this favor?"
"Monsieur," said the officer, "I assure you that, as far as I have
anything to say, you shall not be bound. And as to this brave fellow,
he may be at liberty to move about in this schooner as long as he is
quiet and gives no offence--that is, for the present. And now,
monsieur, I will ask you to accompany me on board the Aigle."
With these words the officer prepared to quit the schooner. Before
doing so he addressed some words to the six seamen, who were to be
left in charge as a prize crew, with one midshipman at their head. He
directed them to follow the frigate until further orders, and also,
until further orders, to leave the captain of the schooner unbound,
and let him have the run of the vessel.
After this the officer returned to the Aigle, taking Claude with him.