Mass' George Part 16

"Then they are aggressive, Preston?" said my father.

"Aggressive! You never heard such overbearing insolence."

"Yes, insolence," said the other officer. "Would you believe it, Captain Bruton; they demand that we shall immediately give up this land--this settlement which we have taken in the name and by permission of his Majesty the King--and go."

"Where?" said my father, gravely.

"Ah, that they do not say," cried Colonel Preston. "An officer has come with this command from the governor of their settlement, and, in the customary haughty style of the overbearing Spaniard, the message has been delivered, and the amba.s.sador is coming to meet us at the General's in about an hour for our reply as to how soon we shall be gone."

"That sounds Spanish," said my father. "Then they do not propose to reimburse us for all that we have done, or to find us another settlement?"

"No, no, no," cried the colonel, angrily; "our orders are to go--to evacuate the settlement at once."

"That would be a painful task if we had to submit."

"Submit!" said the colonel, angrily. "Surely, Bruton, you would not advocate such a plan after all that we have done?"

My father made no reply, but turned to look thoughtfully at the Spanish ship, while the colonel seemed to be raging with anger.

"You will be present at the meeting, of course?" he said.

"Yes," said my father, quickly; "I have come on purpose. We must have this peaceably settled if possible."

"Good heavens!" cried the colonel. "Ah, here is the General," he cried, as the quiet, grave, benevolent man came up, dressed in a very shabby uniform, whose gold lace was sadly frayed and tarnished. "Hark here, sir; Captain Bruton talks of a peaceful settlement of this difficulty."

"Indeed!" said the General, frowning; and I looked at him eagerly, as I recalled that he it was who had been spoken of as the leader of our expedition. "Well, we shall see."

"And very shortly too," said Colonel Preston, warmly, "for here they come."

All eyes were directed toward the large boat which had just pushed away from the Spaniard, and which was now running rapidly toward the sh.o.r.e, with the blades of the oars flashing, the flag in the stern-sheets trailing in the water, and the glint of weapons seen now and then, showing that those on board were well-armed. Then the General spoke.

"Preston and Crayford, have the goodness to receive these Spanish gentlemen, and bring them up to my house. The rest, I hope, will a.s.semble quickly there, so that I can hear what they have to say."

This had evidently all been planned over night, for the officers in uniform all seemed to be making fast for the house out of which I had seen the General come, and before many minutes had elapsed the room was thronged, and I was standing behind my father, who was close to where the General stood.

Not a word was spoken, and in the silence I could hear plainly the noise made by the sailors in laying in their oars, after which there was a pause, and then plainly heard there were the tramp of men, the buzz of voices. About a dozen soldiers halted outside, and four tall, dark, handsome-looking Spanish officers were ushered in by Colonel Preston and Mr Crayford.

Seats were proffered, but declined, and all remained standing, while the Spanish officers conferred together for a few moments before one, who seemed the youngest and lowest in rank, stepped forward, and in fair English said haughtily--

"Gentlemen, I have come for your answer to the communication brought to you last night from the governor of his most sacred Majesty's possessions here in America. What is it to be?"

"Let me say first, sir," said the General, quietly, "that we do not recognise the authority here of the King of Spain. We are on ground belonging to his Majesty the King of England."

"You are interlopers, sir, on the colonial possessions of his Majesty the King of Spain," said the young officer, coldly. "When will you have evacuated this land?"

"What is to be our reply, gentlemen?" said the General, looking round.

"Am I to send word back that you will give up tamely, and submit to this demand?"

"No, no, no," rose in an angry roar throughout the room.

"You alone were silent, Captain Bruton," said the General, sternly.

"Have you nothing to say?"

"Yes," said my father, who turned very white; and he took a step forward. "Sir," he said to the Spanish officer, "is the governor of your settlement aware that we are no trespa.s.sers here, but that we came under the authority of his Majesty King George?"

"I believe all that has been discussed, sir," said the officer, coldly.

"Again I ask, how soon will you evacuate this place?"

"You are hasty, sir," said my father; and a murmur arose in the room.

"Gentlemen," he continued, turning towards his brother officers and members of the expedition, "bear with me for a few moments."

There was another murmur and then silence, with every eye fixed angrily upon my father's face, as he turned once more to the Spanish officers.

"Gentlemen," he said, "all of us who are here consider that we are acting within our rights in taking and holding this land, which you see we have turned from a wilderness into a smiling home. The question of right seems to be in dispute. Cannot it be peacefully settled, for the sake of all? I think we can convince your governor that we are only acting within our rights."

The Spanish officer who was evidently the leader said a few words angrily to the interpreter, who nodded shortly.

"Your answer?" he said, haughtily.

"That we demand a peaceable solution of this difficulty, and that there be no bloodshed."

"When will you go?" cried the young Spaniard aggressively, and amidst a low angry murmur I saw my father's face flush, as he took another step forward, and raising his sword with his left hand he clapped his right down upon the hilt.

A silence fell upon all, and his words rang out loudly and clearly as he exclaimed with his eyes flashing and his brows knit--

"When our hands have no longer strength to draw our swords, sir--when the last man has been beaten down in our struggle for liberty and life-- when we have again taught haughty, overbearing Spain that the English race is not one to draw back--when--I beg your pardon, General," said my father, stopping short.

"Go on, sir," said the General, sternly. "I would not wish for a better exponent of my views."

"Then go, sir," continued my father, "and tell the man who sent you that we are, all whom you see here, Englishmen who have made this our home-- men who mean to keep what we have won in defiance of Spain and all her hosts."

"Is this your answer?" said the Spanish officer, sternly, as soon as silence came after a tremendous cheer.

"Yes," cried the General, "that is our answer, gentlemen, so go in peace."

"Yes, sir," said the Spaniard, after a few muttered words with his companions, "to return in war."

His defiance was received in calm silence, and he and his companions were led out again by Colonel Preston and Mr Crayford, not a word being spoken till they had been seen to march down to the rough quay, embark, and row off to their ship.

It was not till Colonel Preston and Mr Crayford had returned, full of excitement, that the silence was broken by the General.

"Well, gentlemen," he said, "what have you to say?"

"G.o.d save the King!" said my father, enthusiastically.

"Then you will all fight in defence of your hearths and homes?"

A tremendous cheer was the answer.