Beadle's Dime Library No. 316 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

oe ——— eee Then taking the arm of Theodore, he walked away to bis boat, which lay on the opposite side of the island, CHAPTER III. THE BARRATARIANS IM BATTLE. THE ce a events, immediately preced- ing the decisive battle of the eighth of January, having no material connection with our tale, we shall oriefly pass b Lafitte returned to the city, and again offered his services to his coun- try, with those of as many of bis former ad- herents as he could assemble. After the disastrous capture of the American nboats by the British, the invasion of the tate was deemed inevitable. In the perilous condition of the country, it was thought good policy by those intrusted with the public safety to avail themselves of the services of men ac- customed to war, and whose perfect knowledge of the coasts, and the various bayous leading from the sea to the capital, might render their aid of great importance to the enemy, who, it was now generally known, had in vain, and with great offers entreated them to repair to their standard. Although the expediency of uniting them to the American standard, was generally admitted, it was indispensably neces- sary that they should receive pardon for all real or supposed offenses against the laws, This could only be granted by the President of the United States, Governor Claiborne, whose faith in the outlaw remained unshaken, and who regretted the attack on Barrataria, so far as it rendered, by breaking them up, the forces of the outlaws less available to the country, conferred on the subject wlth the major-general in command, The result of this conference was very differ- ent from that of the council convened by the Governor, and with the approbation of the com- manding general, be issued the following gen- eral order: **The Governor of Louisiana, informed that many individuals impiicated in the offenses heretofore committed t the United States at Barrataria express a ess at the present crisis to enroll themselves and march against the enemy— ‘He does hereby invite them to join the stand- ard of the United States, and is authorized to say, should their conduct in the field meet, the approba- tion of the major-general, that that officer will unite with the Governor in a request to the President of the United States, to extend to each and every in- ag marching and acting, a free and full pardon, These general orders were placed in the hands of Lafitte, who circulated them among his dis- pereed followers, most of whom readily em- raced the conditions of pardon they held out, In a few days many brave men and skillful artillerists, whose services contributed greatly to the safety of the invaded State flocked to the standard of the United States, and by their con- duct, received the highest approbation of the commanding foners’. In anticipation of our narrative, we will here mention, that previous to their adjournment, the Legislature of the State recommended the tarians as proper objects for the clemency of the President, who issued a proclamation upon the subject, bearing date the sixth of Feb- ruary, eighteen bundred and fifteen, and trans- mitted it, officially, to the Governor of Louis- iana, by the Secretary of State, granting to them a full and entire pardon. We will now return from this digression to Lafitte, the individual whose personal acts are the subject of our tale, The morning of the eighth of January was ushered in with the discharge of rockets, the sound of cannon, and the cheers of the British advancing to the attack. The Americans, be- bind the breastwork, with calm iotrepidity awaited their appr pact. The enemy advance in close column of sixty men in front, shoulder- ing their muskets and carrying fascines and ladders. A storm of rockets preceded them. An incessant fire opened from the battery, which commanded the advance column as it approached, The musketry and rifles of the ntuckians and Tennesseeans joined the fire of the artillery, and in a few moments was heard along the line a ceaseless, rolling fire, whose tremendous noise resembled the continued reverberation of thunder, One of these guns, a twenty-four pounder, placed upon the breast- work, in the third embrasure from the river, drew forth—from the fatal skill and activity with which it was managed, even in the heat of battle—the admiration of both Americans and British; and became one of the points most dreaded by the advancing fos, Here was stationed Lafitte, three of bis lieu- tenants, Belluche, Sebastiano, and Getzendan- ner, already introduced to the reader, and a large band of his men, who, during the con- tinuance of the battle, fought with unparalleled bravery. The British had been already twice driven back in the utmost confusion, with the loss of their commander-in-chief, and two gen- eral officers. In the first attack of the British, a column pushed forward, between the levee and river; and so precipitate was their charge, that the catposts were forced to retire, closely pressed by ubgeremy. Before tho batteries could check Snant. 1e alltte's —_—-—-- the ditch, they gained the re- doubt through the embrasures, Tae over the arapet, and overwhelming, by their superior orce, the small party stationed there. Lafitte, who was commanding, in conjunction with his officers, at one of the guns, no sooner saw the bold movement of the enemy, then, calling a few of his best men by name, with Theodore by his side, he sprung forward to the point of danger, and clearing the breastwork of the intrenchment, leaped, cutlass in hand, into the midst of the enemy. He was followed by a score of his men, whose courage, in many a hard-fought battle upon his own deck, had been often tested. Astonished at the intrepidity which could in- duce men to leave their intrenchments and meet them hand to hand, and pressed by the suddenness of the charge, which was made with the recklessness, skill, and rapidity of practiced boarders, bounding upon the deck of an enemy’s vessel, the British began to give way, two of their officers having already fallen before the cutlass of the pirate, as — were bravely en- couraging their men by their inspiring shouts, and fearless example, All the energies of the British were now concentrated to scale the breastwork. While Lafitte and his followers, seconding a gallant band of volunteer riflemen, formed a phalanx which they in vain essayed to penetrate, As the British column advanced to the attack, a small boat, propelled by two seamen, and con- taining a handsome man, in the dress of a Brit- ish naval officer, after ascending the river un- noticed in the uproar and confusion of battle, touched the bank nearly opposite the center of the advancing column, The officer sprung out amid a shower of balls, which fell harmlessly around him; then drawing his sword, and loosening his pistols in bis belt, he hastened for- ward to the head of the column, and side by side, with a gallant Scotchman, leaped into the redoubt. Twice he mounted the breastwork and was burled back to rise and again make the effort; his blue eyes oe oes | fire, and his sword flash- ing like a meteor as he hewed his way through the opposing breasts of the Americans. At this moment, Lafitte bounded into the re- doubt at the head of bis men, and turned the tide of battle. The stranger, whose reckless daring and perseverance had, even in the midst of the fight, attracted the attention of both sides, was also pressed back with the retreating column. Yet, with an abstinacy which drew upon him the fire of the riflemen, and the cutlasses of the pirates, he stood bis ground and fought with cool and determined courage, Every blow of his weapon laid a buccaneer dead at his feet. them clearin The British, leaving their numerous dead, had retreated; yet he stood alone, pressed on every side and heedless of danger. His object seemed to be to press forward to the spot where stood the pirate chief, who was separated from him by half a dozen of his men. In vain they called upon bim to surrender, His brow was rigid with desperate resolution, end his eye buroed with a fierce expression, while his arm wey endowed with the strength of a Her- cules, ““Take him prisoner, but harm him not!” said Lafitte, struck with the daring of the man. **Give back,” cried the stranger, speaking for the first time. ‘“‘Give way to my revenge! Pirate Lafitte! ravisher! murderer! I dare you to single combat!—coward!” and his voice rung clear amid the din of war. ‘* Ha, is it so? stand back, men. Hold, Sebas- tiano! leave him to me, if I am the game he seeks so rasbly !” The men, who had involuntarily given back at the sound of the stranger’s voice, now left a ath between bim and his chief; and, before fitte, surprised at his conduct—but in his checkered life, not unused to adventure and danger in every shape—could bring his weapon tothe guard, be received that of the stranger through his sword-arm. “Not that vile stream; but your heart’s blood,” shouted the officer. ‘It is revenge I sesk!” and with a headlong impetuosity that swallowed u bey) 4 emotion but the present passion, he played bis weapon with fatal skill about the breast of his antagonist, who required all bis coolness and swordsmanship to save his life, for which it became evident to his men that he now only fougbt. Theodore stood by the side of Lafitte, with his sword drawn, often involuntarily crossing sim- ultaneously with him, the blade of the stranger, as some more skillful pass threatened his life. All at once bis eyes, which were constantly fixed with an inquiring gaze upon his featu partially concealed by the visor of his cap, an nearly disguised by the dust and smoke of bat- tle, lighted up with peculiar intelligence, “Hold, senor! there is some error!” he said rapidly to Lafitte, and whispered in his ear. he point of Lafitte’s sword dropped, as be exclaimed, ‘“‘ Ha! thank God! T hurt bim not!” The stranger, without knowing the cause which produced, and in his eagerness, heedless of the defenseless state in which Lafitte had ex- posed bis person by the act, plunged his sword ) woun into his side, and would have run him quite through the body, bad not Theodore dexterous- ly caught the weapon upon the guard of his own. Lafitte, murmuring—‘ This for Constanza’s sake!” fell backward into the arms of Theodore and his followers. Absorbed by the danger of their chief, they gave all their attention for the moment to bim. When, the next instant, they turned to avenge bim, the mysterious stranger, who had retired the moment he saw his object—the death of Lafitte—apparently accomplished, was min- gling with the retreating column of the British. Lafitte was borne within the intrenchment by his men, who found it useless to pursue his late antagonist. But as they reascended the breastwork, Theodore looked back with a searching eye, while foreboding eapprebensions filled bis mind, and saw the late antagonist of his chief, distinguished by his naval attire, step into the boat which had conveyed him to the scene of action; and, amidst the hurricane of iron raining around him, harmlessly, as if he bore a charmed life, move rapidly down the river, and soon disappear beneath the branches of the trees which overhung the water. With the true spirit of Christianity, the doors of the churches and convents of the invaded city were thrown open to the wounded, not only of the defending army, but of theinvading foe. To the Convent des Ursulines, one of these temporary hospitals in the heart of the city, Lafitte was borne by the attentive Theodore aud a few of his most faithful adherents. ‘‘ Who have you there, my children?” inguir- ed an aged priest with silvery hair flowing over the cape of his black robe, as the faithful buc- caneers bore the litter on which lay their leader into the paved hall of the convent, and placed it against the wall. ‘“‘He is a man of noble presence. I trust not one in high command?’ *“*It is of no importance, reverend fatber,” said another of the priests, coming forward, Theodore recognized in the speaker the padre Arnaud whom he bad seen at Barrataria, the odor of whose sanctity had not availed to save Sebastiano’s schooner, whose passenger he once had been, from being finally blown into the air. “It is enough,” be added, “ that he is wounded, and that his situation demands our charity.” “You say well, my son; call the physician, and we will have his wounds forthwith examin- ed. Heaven grant he is not in danger!” he said, looking upward devotionally; ‘‘it were sad for sinful man to die without confession and absolu- tion—but Heaven is merciful,” The father Arnaud, immediately on his en- trance, had recognized Lafitte, who had once sent for bim from Havana to confess and give eneral absolution to such of his men who were man Catholics. The father thought if he was known as the outlaw whose name had struck terror throughout the Mexican seas, he might not, among the simple-minded sisterhood an hima, © receive the attention due to every human being, in such a situation, He, therefore, with true benevolence of heart, sought to conceal the real character of the in- ity, d, and hastened to bring to him medical aid. His wound was probed and dressed by the surgeon, who declared bis case by no means dangerous, and that the loss of blood had ren- dered it only apparently so; adding, that sleep, quiet and attention would in a Faw days re- store bim to bealth, Recommending him to the care of Theodore and one or two aged nuns, who were bending over him with commisera- tion expressed in their calm faces, he Jeft them with peyrewieent abruptness, to attend to a ed soldier, just brought in from the field, CHAPTER IV. THE NUN AND THE PIRATE. UPON a cot within the walls of the copvent, Lafitte lay wounded and bleeding. It was some days after the battle of New Or- leans, when tbe Americans, under Jackson, had beaten back Packenbam and his British army. The wounded man had borne a conspicuous art in that well-fougbt fight, and he had won for himself and his followers pardon for his crimes, Now, wounded nigh unto death, as he believ- ed, he lay under the sacred shelter of a con- vent. From his home, and from her he loved, and for whom he hed branded his hand with a bro- ther’s blood, he had never heard since the night he fled, Cain-accursed from the scene, In all bis wanderings he had not forgotten, though. In all his scenes of danger and carnage, he bad not drowned bitter thought, and yet now, as if soothed by the influence of the time and place, be slept, On the third evening the wound of the chief closed, and he was rapidly convalescing, bay- ing received permission from the surgeon to leave the convent the succeeding day. The eve of that day the halls and corridors of the convent were deserted, Silence reigned un- disturbed, save by the light step of a nun moy- ing in her vigils around the couch of an invalid, GOMmiGhboo S (E()