University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.
THE PURSUIT AND CAPTURE.

When Renault departed from the palace, after defeating
the governor's purpose of assassination, he left
his party and galloped alone towards his own dwelling,
full of anxiety for the fate of Azèlie, for whom he feared
every evil while she remained under the power of
his cruel mother, or so long as the rumoured libertinism
of the new governor could give her ambitious mind the
faintest hope of personal aggrandizement by offering

him so lovely a victim. As he rode along, he resolved
to remove her at once, not only from his mother's roof,
but from the town, and become the personal protector
of her happiness and honour.

She was dear to him for her affection and for her
gentle beauty, and he felt that for her safety and welfare
he would willingly sacrifice his own life. With
these thoughts mingled apprehensions for the safety of
the president and his friends, who, though safely without
the precincts of the palace, were not yet beyond danger.
The more he reflected upon the character of the
governor, the more his solicitude for their escape increased;
so that, when he reached his own gate, instead
of entering, he relieved his anxiety for the safety
of his sister by inquiring of the old African porter after
her welfare; and, learning nothing that could alarm his
fears, he spurred forward, and in a short time arrived
at the private mansion of the president. He found him
in the court with two others, ready to mount their
horses, and delaying only for the arrival of the remainder
of their friends from their respective homes. In a
little while these arrived, each armed, like the president
and his party, with a heavy sword at the side and
pistols in their holsters.

“Gentlemen,” said Renault, who was received by
them with the warmest expressions of joy and gratitude,
“this night's treachery should teach us caution. The
Count of Osma has too much hatred and unsatisfied
revenge in his bosom to let you escape without an effort
to arrest your flight. He has been foiled, not defeated.
I pray you, allow me to escort you with my
small band a mile beyond the gates. Nay, I will not
be said `no!' Remain here a few minutes, and I will
return and ride with you to the barriers. It may not
be you should go alone.”

Leaving the house of the Sieur d'Alembert, Renault
then rode rapidly towards the rendezvous, in the hopes
of finding there the most of his band of reserve of forty
men; though with some doubts of it, as he had dismissed
them to their private quarters on leaving the

palace. He galloped forward, however, with great
speed; and, entering the echoing court among the
ruins, traversed it to the extremity of the hall without
finding a single loitering individual of his party.

“At the very moment each sword is worth its weight
in ingots, they are dispersed. My bugle will scarce
reach the ears of half a dozen. Yet six brave hearts
were a bulwark before the venerable president's breast!”

Thus speaking, he wound his bugle loud and long,
the notes sounding far and high in the still evening.
Thrice he repeated the well-known signal of his band,
to the surprise of the guards at the city gates, and the
curious wonder of the soldiers in the distant barracks.

It was a bold step, and he felt it to be so; but it
was a crisis that admitted of no hesitation. In a few
moments afterward every street seemed to give out a
horseman, who rode in the direction of the rendezvous;
and in ten minutes Renault galloped forth at the head
of thirty young men. The president and councillors
were soon received into their midst, and the whole body
moved at a rapid trot towards the gates.

“Osma's justice!” cried Renault, as they came
thundering up to the guardhouse.

“Pass!” answered the captain of the guard, throwing
wide the broad gates, and letting them forth into
the country.

Their rear was barely beyond pistol-shot from the
walls ere Sulem appeared at the post, and delivered to
the captain of the guard the new countersign given him
by Osma. It was “The Quadroone!” He had hardly
gone before a troop, consisting of fifty mounted
dragoons, spurring at full speed, came up to the barrier.

“Ho! Barrucas!” shouted their leader to the captain
of the guard; “has a party of half a dozen old
men passed through the gate to-night?”

“In the midst of a squadron of horse that went by
just before you came, I saw several elderly men riding,
surrounded by a guard of horsemen with drawn
swords,” answered the other; “but, though they gave
the countersign, I was sure, before they had one third
passed through, they were none of our troops.”

“Forward, in pursuit,” shouted the leader, waving
his glittering sabre above his head, and dashing headlong
through the gate. “Forward! forward!” rung
along the line of cavalry from mouth to mouth, each
soldier, in his momentary ardour, forgetting the strict
discipline that enforces silence on men under command.
Then, with waving plumes and thundering hoofs, the
whole squadron swept through the gate like a tempest
of iron.

Renault was not yet a quarter of a mile beyond the
gates when he heard the sounds of pursuit, and his
suspicions left him no room to doubt the cause. Riding
up by the side of the president, he said,

“I fear me, venerable sir, your life will be once
more exposed to peril. I pray you, ride forward with
your friends at the top bent of your speed, and leave
me to check the pursuit. My horse is fleeter than
thine. Mount him, and give me yours. So that you
are in safety, I am content.”

“Nay, brave Renault, this may not be; keep thy
horse, and I will remain here. I am an old man, but
can nevertheless wield a sword to purpose.”

“Sir President, pardon me, thy danger has put thirty
young men in peril to save thee. Wilt thou, by remaining
behind when escape is before thee, render that
peril vain for yourselves? Ride, sir; ride, gentlemen,
all! We will place ourselves between you and pursuit.
In half an hour you will be safe within the fortress.
Eight or ten of my young men shall accompany
you.”

“Be it so, since you so warmly urge it, my son,” answered
the Sieur d'Alembert; “but, as I live, I had
rather die than expose thee to harm on this occasion.”

“Fear me not, sir. Danger in these times is to me
meat and drink. Do you ride on, in Heaven's name,
and leave me to give a good account of these Spaniards.”

“Be it as thou wilt, noble youth,” said the president;
“thou hast put thyself in the way of danger for us,
and we were ungenerous not to obey thee. Let me

embrace thee! Doubtless they pursue us alone. If
they find us not with you, you will scarce come to
blows, and nothing evil may grow out of it. It is
best, therefore, that we do ride on. Come, gentlemen,
our absence will prevent bloodshed; let us spur forward.”

Thus speaking, the councillors, guarded by five or
six young men, separated from the escort, and with
freer rein, though the whole company had hitherto rode
at good speed, galloped ahead.

“Now, my brave courreurs,” said Renault, having
given orders to his troop to ride at a less rapid rate,
“on our prudence and courage depend the lives of
those venerable men. Yonder advancing troops are
Spaniards, doubtless in pursuit of them. They cannot
certainly know that they were of our party, and may
be turned back from the chase peaceably. But if
they will not be prevailed on to return, but are resolved
to go on in pursuit, then it becomes us to give them
battle. They are rapidly approaching! A furlong
before us is a slight elevation in an open space of the
forest. There we will draw rein and await them.
On!”

In a few moments they came to the rising ground,
and wheeled into line facing the town. They had
hardly done so when the moonlight, flashing upon numerous
glittering points in the distant forest-road, as
well as the louder sound of galloping horses, jingling
sabres, and ringing iron, showed them that those who
pursued were immediately upon them.

“Coolly and silently, my comrades, now,” said Renault;
“their force can scarcely be twice our own,
and, for brave and determined hearts like ours, this is
but even battle. They see us now and draw rein.
This shows Spanish caution.”

The pursuing squadron, the same which Rascas ordered
out, but which he had commanded to ride on
without him, after overtaking and detaching from it
the guard to arrest Don Henrique, on discovering Renault's
troop posted in their path, suddenly drew up,

and their leader, riding forward a few paces, sounded
a parley. It was answered by a note from the young
courreur chief's bugle, and he, in turn, rode forward to
meet him.

“Your servant, Signor Captain,” said the Spaniard,
with some show of courtesy. “I am in pursuit of a
troop of rebel horse that but now left the city gates,
escorting certain escaped state-prisoners. I should
have suspected thy party; but I see their faces are
turned city-ward, and discover in it none of those I
seek.”

“Save my party, no other horse have passed this
way within the hour,” said Renault.

“Thy party is that we seek, signor,” said a gray-headed
lieutenant, riding up. “This, Signor Captain, is
the very leader of the party that rescued the councillors
in the banquet-chamber. I was present when the
men-at-arms entered, and now recognise him. It is
this troop, and none other, that came through the
gates. They doubtless have sent the prisoners forward,
and are drawn up to stay pursuit.”

“Then, in the name of Santiago of Spain, let us
charge through them!” cried the Spanish captain, with
animation.

So vigorous was the onset, the Spanish horse having
the advantage of full twenty yards' momentum,
that the courreurs du bois were compelled to give way
before it, and let them pass through without scarcely
striking a blow. Chagrined and angry with himself
for having suffered the Spaniard to take him thus at
vantage, and fearing for the safety of the councillors,
Renault instantly rallied his troop, in his turn pursuing
the Spanish cavalry, and attacked them while in full
career with the most desperate valour. He assailed
them on either flank with such fatal obstinacy and address,
that, before they had advanced a quarter of a
mile, ten of the dragoons were unhorsed, and left
weltering in their blood upon the road. His voice was
heard above the loud tramp of the horses, inspiring
and urging his men to avenge their dishonour. And

well did they obey him. Once he galloped to the van
of the Spaniards, and in person attacked the Spanish
leader, cheering his troop, and shouting for them to
strive to gain the front.

This desperate flying conflict continued for nearly
half a league, the hovering courreurs dealing death and
wounds upon their foes, and they, by the command of
their leader, who each moment expected to come up
with the fugitive councillors, only acting on the defensive,
and using their spurs rather than their swords.
All at once Renault, who had fallen to the rear for
the purpose of assembling his party to take advantage
of a winding in the road to cross the forest and gain
the van, heard a shout from the Spanish leader that
betrayed the discovery of the pursued. He looked
ahead, and his worst fears were confirmed by seeing
them galloping along an open glade, upon which the
moon shone brightly, fully exhibiting the small party
to the eyes of the Spaniards.

“Now, my brave friends,” he cried to his band,
“let us defend and save our judges, or die with them.
Follow me!”

The way was too narrow, as well as the speed at
which the Spaniards rode too great, for him to pass
them before they could come up with the fugitives.
Therefore Renault, after giving the command, turned
off to the right, followed by his whole troop save
three or four that had fallen in the flying contest. Riding
a little way at full speed through a natural avenue
of the forest, he came to a narrow path which admitted
but two abreast. This he entered, and, after
galloping about five minutes, emerged suddenly into
the great forest, ahead both of the pursuers and pursued.
It was with joy that he saw the councillors had
not yet passed by, though they were visible not a
hundred yards off, approaching at a rapid pace, the
dragoons close upon them, and the voice of their captain
shouting upon them to surrender.

The appearance of Renault surprised the Spaniards,
and, slackening their pace, they came to a halt. But

the absence of the party that had so annoyed his rear
instantly accounted to him for this apparently fresh
squadron, and he was about to give the order to charge
them. But Renault, with whose party the fugitives
had united, profiting by his former experience, and
seeing his only safety was in fighting, anticipated him
by leading his own men to the onset ere the Spaniards
could get in motion. The meeting was terrific and
most sanguinary. The president fought by the side
of Renault; and the councillors were seen everywhere
the fight was thickest, dealing deadly blows.

The force of the Spaniards was far greater than
that of the courreurs du bois; and, after a severe conflict
of ten minutes, the latter were ready to give way,
half of their number already lying dead on the ground.
Even when the battle waxed warmest, the Spanish
leader did not forget the object he had in view; and,
notwithstanding their stout defence, the councillors,
through his coolness and skill, were one after another
made prisoner and carried to the rear. Thrice the
president had been seized and borne from his saddle,
and as many times had Renault, assisted by two or
three of his party whom he summoned to his aid, rescued
him from their hands.

“This determination to take me alive, Renault,”
said the president, “shows me that, if taken, I am reserved
for a worse fate than can await me here. So
I will die here, sword in hand.”

“Nay, thou shalt escape with me!” said Renault.
“My poor comrades!” he sighed; “this has been a
fatal night for them. Thy friends, sir, are all fallen
or taken captive! What do we battle for longer save
for thyself? Thy horse bleeds to death! Mount mine
and fly!”

“Alas! that my worthless life should have caused
so great bloodshed! If my escape will end it, I will
do as thou wilt!” answered the president, despondingly.

Renault wound a recall upon his bugle, and the
remnant of his band gathered round him. Then,

mounting the president upon his own horse, and leaping
upon another, he placed him between himself and
one of his troop; and, ere the Spanish captain, whose
force was very much diminished by the slain and the
absence from the field of those necessary to guard the
captives, could divine their intentions, they were in
full speed of flight.

“Hold, signors! pursue them no farther! We
have six of them captives, and we had best return
with these ere we are attacked by a fresh troop, and
risk the loss of them! for I am told these forests are
filled with roving gentlemen of the blade, and we are
in little condition to do battle again to-night. Mount
and guard your prisoners, and then spur for the gates!
If Osma give me not a colonelcy for this night's
bloody work, he hath little appreciation of a cavalier's
merits! Are you all to horse? Then forward!”

Obedient to his command, the Spanish troop, one
third less in number than when they left the town,
guarding between them the six venerable prisoners,
weary, wounded, and bleeding, formed into marching
column, and at a slower pace than they had come out,
returned towards the city.

Count Osma was seated in his cabinet an hour after
his return from the quadroone's dwelling, his satellites
Rascas and the Moor closeted with him, both having
fulfilled their respective missions, save, as has been
seen, that Rascas, instead of continuing on with the
dragoons as he had been ordered to do, transferred his
services more immediately to his master's person.
He was waiting impatiently for news from those who
had been despatched to intercept the flight of the
councillors. Suddenly the sound of a body of horse
reached his ears, and he started to his feet.

“Go, Rascas, and quick bring me their report!” he
cried.

During his absence he paced his room with rapid
and nervous strides, and half met him at the door
when he returned.

“So! what tidings?”

“Taken,” answered Rascas, laconically.

“All!”

“Six of them.”

“Where is Captain Lopez?”

“Here, your excellency,” replied the captain of the
troop, who had followed at the heels of the count's
messenger.

“You are well returned, Signor Captain! Are
these rebel judges taken?”

“All save one; but with the loss of sixteen of our
party.”

“And but seven old men to oppose thee! How is
this, sir?”

“They had an escort of some thirty courreurs du
bois, I think they are called.”

“Ha! this Renault once more!” cried Osma, in an
angry tone of surprise. “One escaped, saidst thou?
If thou hast the old president, they might all have fled.”

“I know not their rank, signor,” answered the captain;
“every man of them is old and gray-headed.”

“Conduct them hither.”

In a few moments afterward the captive judges
stood before him.

“You are welcome, gentlemen,” said the count,
with haughty scorn, as they were led in, guarded, one
after another. “Ha! Signor Captain, are these the
six? Are these all your captives?” he demanded,
with keen and violent disappointment, as the last entered.
“Where is the president?”

“If he be not here, it is he who has escaped,” replied
the Spanish captain.

“Then thy head shall answer for it! I had rather
he were here in chains before me than a score of lesser
men.”

“It may not be helped, signor. We fought till I
lost a third of my men. The one who escaped was
wrested from us by the coolness and address of the
courreur chef, who galloped off with him, his hand upon
his rein, the remnant of his men circling him with
their bodies.”

“They have then escaped to their fortress, signor,”

said Rascas. “If you have not trouble ere many
days from that quarter, I know not the mettle of this
Renault.”

“I would give his head's weight in gold for it!”

“Give me the weight of his brains in silver, and I
will bring it thee, signor,” answered Rascas, slightly
and significantly touching the haft of his dagger.

“We will talk of this anon. How now, sirs!” he
added, fixing his glance with stern vindictiveness upon
the captives, “do you not deserve death?”

“Not for doing our duty,” replied the oldest of the
judges, firmly.

“Nor shall Osma for doing his. Drag them away
to prison, and send them a priest; for they die at sunrise!”

The count turned from them as he spoke, and they
were led forth from his presence, without his bestowing
upon them another glance.

“Ho, Sulem! go bid Lopez conduct them into the
council chamber ere they be taken to prison, and summon
the cabildo to me there forthwith. I had forgot.
I have promised my daughter they shall have a trial.”

In a quarter of an hour afterward, this tribunal of
Osma's own creatures was assembled, the prisoners
brought before it, and confronted with certain witnesses
that were readily to be found. The charge made
against them was that of rebellion. Rather for his
own amusement than a desire for justice, Osma bade
his assessor hear and record the testimony against the
prisoners, and then called upon them for their defence.

The elder councillor pleaded that he had done nothing
except in the character of commissary-general
and ordonateur of the King of France in the province;
and to him alone he was accountable for the motives
that had directed his official conduct. This plea was
sustained; but the Count of Osma, although the cabildo
was a civil court, in his character as commanding
general as well as president of the tribunal, likening
it to a court-martial, said he disproved the judgment
of the cabildo, and that the prisoner was guilty.

Another of the councillors boldly offered the same
plea, which was in like manner disapproved by the
commanding general. The other prisoners, seeing
this, denied the jurisdiction of the tribunal before
which they were arraigned. Their plea, however,
was overruled, and they were convicted under an old
statute, which denounces the punishment of death and
confiscation of property, not only against those who
excite any insurrection against the king or state, or
take up arms under pretext of extending their liberty
or rights, but against those who give them any assistance.
Osma then rose up, and, after declaring that
the Sieur d'Alembert and Renault the Quadroon were
also included in their conviction, condemned them to
be hanged, and pronounced the confiscation of their estates.

On hearing this, several of the better class of town's-people
who had sided with Spain, as well as some of
the Spanish officers (for the council-chamber was
thrown open to the populace, and was nearly filled even
at that late hour), sought, by the most earnest entreaties,
to prevail on the governor, before he left the forum,
to remit or suspend the execution of his sentence till
the royal clemency could be implored. He was, however,
inflexible and inexorable; and the only indulgence
he would condescend to grant was, that their punishment
should be inflicted by shooting instead of hanging.

“So! Take them to prison! This farce hath been
in play full long. Early to-morrow afternoon let them
be led forth to execution!”

Thus speaking, the sanguinary governor strode from
the council-chamber, where justice and humanity had
been thus openly mocked, and the victims of his bloodthirsty
vindictiveness were conducted to the dungeons
prepared for them.

“On the ensuing morning,” says Francois Xavier
Martin, in his History of Louisiana, “the guards at
every gate and port of the city were doubled, and orders
were given not to allow anybody to enter it. All
the troops were under arms, and paraded the streets,

or were placed in battle array along the levée and on
the public square. Most of the inhabitants fled into
the country. At six o'clock in the afternoon, the victims
were led, under a strong guard, to the small square
in front of the barracks, tied to stakes, and an explosion
of musketry soon announced to the few inhabitants
who remained in the city that their friends were no
more. Posterity, the judge of men in power, will doom
this act to public execration: an act which no necessity
demanded and no policy justified; an act which
served rather to gratify a spirit of retributive vengeance
in the satisfaction of personal revenge than to answer
the ends of national justice.”