Chapter XIV. New Orleans

by Joseph A. Altsheler

　　They sailed and rowed steadily on for several days. Once ortwice they saw canoes or boats containing white men, who regardedthem curiously, but none approached. They inferred that theywere now very near New Orleans, and all the five were alert withanticipation. Besides the accomplishment of their great task,they were about to visit a metropolis, a seat of government, acity of eight or ten thousand people, commanding the road to theheart of the North American continent, swarming with many races,and destined, as all the world then believed, to be the largestplace in either America. It is no wonder that the bosoms of thefive throbbed with curiosity, and that they looked forward tostrange and varied sights.

　　"Now, Jim," said Shif'less Sol in a warning tone to Long Jim,"I've got advice to give you. I wuz in a big town once. I toldyou about that time I went to Baltimore when I wuz a little boy,an' so I'm fit to tell you how to behave. New Or-lee-yuns ain'tlike the woods, Jim. Don't you be too handy with your gun. Efyou see a man follerin' along behind you ez ef he wuz trailin'you, don't you up an' take a shot at him. Like ez not he's abouthis business, only it happens to be in the same direction thatyou're goin'. An', Jim, don't you go to gittin' dizzy, throughseem' so many people about. Mebbe you don't think thar will besech a crowd, but you'll believe it when you see it.

　　"Sol Hyde," rejoined Long Jim indignantly, "I'm sorry NewOr-lee-yuns ain't right at the sea, 'cause the sea is salt, soI've heard, an' then ef I wuz to dip you in it three or fourtimes it would do you a pow'ful lot uv good. Salt is shorelymighty helpful in the curin' up uv fresh things."

　　"There goes another of those canoes," said Paul, "but I can'ttell whether it's a white man or an Indian in it."

　　"It's a white man," said Henry, "but I fancy it's a West IndianFrenchman or Spaniard. I've heard that some of them are as darkas Indians."

　　"Time to think 'bout tyin' up for the dark," said Tom Ross. "Wemight go on all night, but we need to save our strength furto-morrow. What do you say to that little cove over thar on thewest bank,, Henry?"

　　"Looks as if it would be the right place," replied Henry, "and itis certainly time to stop. The sun seems to go down faster herethan it does in Kentucky."

　　The twilight was spreading swiftly over the arch from west toeast as they entered the cove and tied "The Galleon" to a liveoak. Paul leaped joyfully ashore, glad to stretch his limbsagain. The others quickly followed, and they set about gatheringwood to build a fire. They were out of the Indian country nowand they had no need to be cautious.

　　Paul bestirred himself looking for brushwood. Presently he foundat the edge of the water a dead bough which was long enough to bebroken into several sticks of convenient length. He picked itup, and for the purpose of breaking it brought it down heavily ona large brown log lying in the mud near the water.

　　To Paul's amazement and horror, the big brown log got into actionat either end. One end, in the shape of a tail, whipped aroundat him, barely missing him, and the other end, splitting itselfhorizontally in half, revealed huge jaws lined with terribleteeth. Paul sprang back with a cry, and Henry, who was near,rifle in hand, fired a ball into the monster's brain. The bigbrown log, that was no log, turned partially over and died.

　　"An alligator," said Henry, "I've heard of them, but this is thefirst that I've ever seen."

　　"I've heard of them, too," said Paul, "but I never thought I'dwalk almost into the mouth of one without knowing it."

　　Shif'less Sol had his grievance, too.

　　"Now that's another o' the ways o' this here southern country!"he exclaimed in a pained tone. "A big, hungry, wild animal,tryin' to pass itself off ez an old dead log. Up in Kentucky, agood honest bear, or even a sneakin' panther, would be ashamed tolook you in the face alter tryin' to play sech a low-down trickon a man."

　　"It is certainly a hideous brute," said Paul.

　　"I'm thinkin' that we'd better build our fire big," said LongJim. "I don't want to wake up in the mornin' an' find myselfdevoured by an alligator, jest when I wuz about to reach thegreat town uv New Or-lee-yuns."

　　But they were not molested that night by either man or animal,and the next day, watchful and surcharged with interest, theyapproached New Orleans, which was bulking so large to them. Theriver looped out into a crescent and narrowed greatly. As theycame to the city, the Mississippi did not seem to them to be morethan a third of a mile wide, but they knew that it was extremelydeep.

　　But there, snugly within the crescent, lay New Orleans, a townenclosed within palisaded fortifications that faced the levee forabout a thousand yards, and that ran back perhaps half as far.The levee was lined with vessels. Already New Orleans was famousfor shipping, and they saw the flags of many nations. Schoonersthere were and brigs and brigantines, and barks and barkentines,and other craft from Europe and the West Indies and SouthAmerica. Near the shore was a great, high ship, from which thered and yellow flag of Spain fluttered in more than one place,while the muzzles of cannon protruded from her wooden sides.

　　"That's an armed galleon," said Paul.

　　"She's a big ship an' she's got lots o' men on her," saidShif'less Sol, "but I wouldn't trade our gall-yun fur her."

　　"No, our boat suits us best," said Henry.

　　They saw about them on the river many small craft like their own,ships, boats, canoes, barges, dug-outs, and other kinds, mannedby white men, red men, yellow men, and brown men. They heardstrange cries in foreign tongues, and now and then the sound of atrumpet blown at one of the forts in the palisaded wall.Officers in brilliant uniforms appeared on the levee.

　　The eyes of Long Jim Hart opened wider and wider.

　　"It shorely is a big town," he said. "Sol, I'd been thinkin' thatyou an' Paul wuz tellin' a good deal that ain't, but I reckonit's the truth. The world has a lot more people than I thoughtit had. I'm pow'ful glad I came."

　　They turned "The Galleon" toward the levee, and an officer in aboat pulled by four uniformed oarsmen hailed them in Spanish,which none of them understood.

　　"Must be a harbor master or something of that kind," said Henry.

　　They brought "The Galleon" to a stop, and the other boat camealongside. The officer in the bow was a Catalan, richly dressed,and small, but with a thin, alert face. He looked at the fivewith as much curiosity as they looked at him. Secretly headmired their splendid shoulders and chests, and their obviousstrength. He was acute enough, too, to guess whence they came.Lieutenant Diego Bernal had not been two years in New Orleans fornothing.

　　"You come from Kaintock?" he said in fair and not unfriendlyEnglish.

　　"Yes," replied Henry, "we are all the way from Kentucky, and wehave an important message for the Governor General, BernardoGalvez. Can you tell us how to reach him?"

　　Lieutenant Diego Bernal glanced at "The Galleon," which wasobviously of Spanish build, but he was a shrewd officer who wouldmake his way in the world and he knew that many strange thingspassed inspection in this great Franco-Spanish metropolis of NewOrleans.

　　"His Excellency, the Governor General," he replied, "is now athis house at the corner of Toulouse street and Rue de La Levee,but it is too late for you to see him to-day. To-morrow morningyou may secure audience with him if you have the importantmessage that you say."

　　The five disregarded the ironical tone in his voice. They weregood enough judges of character to surmise that Lieutenant DiegoBernal, whose name and career were unknown to them, did not carea particle how they had come into possession of the boat whichwas so obviously of Spanish build. There was no advantage to himin asking too many questions, and he calmly waved them to alanding.

　　They pulled in and tied their boat to the levee, while men andwomen, white, yellow, brown, and black, and all the colorsbetween, stood about and looked at the giants from Kaintock,where people were reported to be of such extraordinary size andferocity, and where they certainly were, as their own eyes couldtell them, of uncommon height and strength, even boys such asthey saw Henry and Paul to be.

　　While the five were engaged in this task, rabbais, or peddlingmerchants, some Provencals and some Catalans came to sell themgoods, which they carried in coffin-shaped vehicles pushed beforethem. They had wares, mostly small articles from Spain andFrance and the West Indies. Colored women carrying immense cansof milk or coffee on their heads passed by or lingered in hope ofa sale. Others were calling for sale callas and cakes touschauds in monotonous, drawling voices. Negresses, also, weretrying to sell belles chandelles, which were dirty candles madefrom green myrtle wax, the chief light then sold in the city.

　　The five understood the gestures of this rabble, although nottheir words, and waved them away, not caring to buy anything.

　　"Keep cool, Jim! keep cool!" said Shif'less Sol. "Don't shoot.They don't want to kill you; they jest want to rob you."

　　"Depends on what they want to rob me uv," replied Long Jim with agrin. "I never had more'n ten shillin's at one time in my life,an' I've got a purty strong grip on my rifle an' the clothes thatI hev on."

　　" I think we'd better go ashore an' do a little scoutin'," saidTom Ross. "It's always well to know the groun' on which you'regoin' to act."

　　"No doubt of it, Tom," said Henry, "and we'll all go together."

　　They had a little money of English coinage which was takenreadily in cosmopolitan New Orleans, and with two shillings theyhired a levee watchman, whom they judged they could trust, tolook after "The Galleon." Then, rifle on shoulder, they enteredthe fortified city by the gate called Chemin des Tehaupitoulas.Spain, officially at least, was the friend of the colonies andthe enemy of England, and the sentinels at the gate readilypassed them after a few questions.

　　Here they asked again for the Governor General, Bernardo Galvez,and the statement of Lieutenant Diego Bernal that he could not beseen was confirmed. He had arrived only a few hours before froma two days' expedition down the river, and was now immersed inimportant papers that had awaited his coming.

　　They saw the Governor General's house, a one story buildingfronting the river with a gallery on one side, gardens on theother, and kitchen and outbuildings behind. They lookedlongingly at it, as they desired very much to see Bernardo Galvezat once. But presently they passed on into the Place d'Armes, awide open space used as a review ground. At the very moment theyentered it a company of Spanish soldiers were going through theirevolutions, and, after the fashion of to-day, children and theirdark-faced nurses were watching them. The five did not thinkmuch of the soldiers, who seemed to them to be dwarfed andwithout zeal.

　　"Ef ever Kentucky comes down the long river," said Shif'less Sol,"it will take bigger men than these to hold her back."

　　Paul's gaze wandered from the soldiers, and he saw in a corner ofthe Place d'Armes a great wooden gallows that made him shudder.It was a gallows very often used, too, and any one could havepointed out to Paul the spot in the middle of the Place d'Armeswhere five gallant French gentlemen, among the best citizens ofNew Orleans, had been shot not long before for planning to throwoff the rule of Spain and make Louisiana a free republic.

　　They strolled on, still filled with curiosity and gratifying it.They saw many buildings that surpassed anything hitherto in theirexperience, the brick parish church, on the site of which theCathedral of St. Louis was afterwards built, the arsenal, thejail, and the house of the Capuchins, who had lately triumphedover the Jesuits. The largest building of all that they saw wasthe convent of the Ursuline Nuns, standing in the city square onthe river front, and this was, in fact, the largest building inNew Orleans.

　　While there were many houses of brick, the cheaper were ofcypress wood, and the sidewalks were only four or five feet wide,with a wooden drain for a gutter. There was no paving of thestreets, which, now deep in dust, would turn to quag'mires whenthe rain came. At long intervals were wooden posts withprojecting arms from which hung oil lamps, to be lighted whennightfall came.

　　Long Jim uttered an exclamation of disgust, and gripped his nosefirmly between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand.

　　"I never smelt sech smells afore in all my life," he said,pointing to the heaps of garbage scattered about. "A big townlike this here is pow'ful interestin', but it ain't clean. Paul,remember them great forests up thar in Kentucky an' across theOhio! Remember how clean an' nice the ground is! Remember allthem big, fine, friendly trees, millions an' millions uv 'em!Remember all them nice little springs uv clean, cold water, clearenough to be lookin' glasses, one, an' sometimes more, everythree or four hundred yards! Remember all them nice smells uvthe wild flowers, an' the trees, an' the grass, an' me settin' atthe foot uv the biggest tree uv 'em all, cookin' on a roarin'fire, fat, juicy buffaler an' deer steaks fur you fellers!"

　　"I remember," replied Paul smiling. "I remember it all, and I dobelieve, Jim, that you are homesick for the woods."

　　"Not homesick eggzackly, but I jest want to say that a big townlike this kin be mighty interestin', but after I've seed it, giveme back our own clean woods."

　　"I believe I agree with you, Jim," said Paul thoughtfully.

　　They strolled back into the Place d'Armes, where the review wasstill in progress, and where more people were gathering. Thewomen were bare-headed, and generally wore a short round skirt,and long basque like overgarments, the two invariably ofdifferent, but bright, colors. All of them wore much ribbon andjewelry, but, as a rule, they were too dark of countenance tosuit the ideas of the five concerning feminine beauty. At rareintervals, however, they saw a girl with light hair and lighteyes and light complexion, and all these were really handsome.

　　"Those, I imagine, are French," said Paul. "We've got into thehabit of thinking of the French as always dark, but many of themare fair. I've heard our school teacher, Mr. Pennypacker, say sooften, and he ought to know. For the matter of that, some of theSpaniards are light, too."

　　"Yes, thar's Alvarez," said Shif'less Sol. "He's light, an'that's one reason why I mistrusted him the first time I saw him.It looks more nateral fur a Spaniard to be dark."

　　As they stood in the Place d'Armes looking at the sights, thefive themselves began to attract much attention. Their heightand strength, their long, slender barreled rifles, and theirdeerskin attire made them highly picturesque figures. The motleypopulation of New Orleans was used to all kinds of people, armedor unarmed, but generally armed. These, however, were different.They bore themselves with dignity, there was about them an air ofabsolute simplicity and honesty, and they kept close together ina manner that indicated a faithful brotherhood, closer even thanthe brotherhood of blood. They seemed to come from another worldthan that which furnished so many desperate adventurers andformer galley slaves to New Orleans.

　　Henry noticed the attention that they were attracting, and he didnot like it.

　　"Perhaps, boys, we'd better go back to our boat," he said.

　　But before any one could answer he was tapped lightly on the armand, turning about, he saw the small, trim figure of LieutenantDiego Bernal, who had been the first man to greet them as theyentered New Orleans.

　　"We met on the water, as you know," said the little lieutenant,smiling in a friendly manner. "My name is Bernal, Diego Bernal,and I am a lieutenant in the service of our most excellentGovernor General, Bernardo Galvez."

　　His manner was polite, and Henry met him half way. He hadnothing to conceal, and he gave him the names of his comrades andhimself. Lieutenant Bernal all the time was regarding themshrewdly.

　　"It is evident that you are mighty men despite the youth of someof you," he said, "and I begin to suspect it from other factsalso."

　　"What other facts?" asked Henry.

　　"Now, there is the matter of your boat," replied the lieutenantjauntily. "I had a belief, wrong no doubt, that she was ofSpanish build. I also seemed to have a recollection, wrong, too,no doubt, that I had once seen Francisco Alvarez, the chief ofour captains, aboard that boat and bearing himself in a mannerthat indicated ownership. I am wrong, no doubt. My impressionsare often false and my memory always weak. Gladly would I standcorrection. Gladly would I be convinced that I am misled by somefancied resemblance."

　　"Them's pow'ful big words," said Long Jim.

　　Henry, who was always the leader of the five when they weretogether, looked into the eyes of Diego Bernal, and he seemed tosee there the curious contraction that is called a wink. He gavejudgment at once concerning Diego Bernal.

　　"I take it," he said by way of reply, "that you are no greatfriend of the captain, Francisco Alvarez?"

　　"If a higher officer rebukes you unjustly and sneers at acommander whom you respect and like, is it calculated to promotefriendship?"

　　The gaze of the two met again, and Henry understood.

　　"I see what your choice would be if you were compelled to choosebetween Bernardo Galvez and Francisco Alvarez," he said. "It maybe that you will have to make such a choice, and I will tell you,too, that the boat did belong to the Captain Alvarez. We took itfrom him because, first, he made an outrageous attack upon us;secondly, he is plotting to set all the Indian tribes upon us inKentucky, aided with Spanish soldiers and Spanish guns, and,thirdly, he hopes to become Governor General of Louisiana, andcommit Spain to an alliance with England in the war upon theAmericans."

　　Henry spoke boldly and earnestly, and the others nodded assent.Lieutenant Diego Bernal, a trim, dandified little man, drew forthfrom the pocket of his waistcoat a small gold snuff box anddelicately took a pinch of snuff, a habit to which the five wereunaccustomed.

　　"Speak it low, my friend," he said deliberately. "All this, ifit be true, is great news, and you do right in coming to NewOrleans to see Bernardo Galvez. Can you prove it when you seethe Governor General?"

　　"We can give proofs," replied Henry guardedly.

　　"It is well, and I am pleased that I have met you. Know thenthat I am the enemy of Francisco Alvarez, and that I may aid you.Who can tell? It is well for strangers to have friends in NewOrleans. I have an impression that I have some influence. I amusually wrong and my memory is always weak, but this particularimpression persists, nevertheless."

　　Long Jim opened his mouth in wonder.

　　"'Pears strange to me," he said, "that a furrin man kin pick morebig words out uv our language, an' rope 'em together than wekin."

　　Lieutenant Diego Bernal smiled. He was pleased.

　　"I learned English when I was a boy," he said, "and now it servesme well. I would hear more of your news, gentlemen, but for thepresent I wish to offer you refreshments. Come with me, if 'youplease."

　　He led the way into a low building of brick, an inn fashionedafter the manner of those in France. They entered the publicroom, which was large and square, with a fairly clean, sandedfloor, and many men about drinking liquors unknown to the five.They took seats at a table in a rather retired corner, and gazedwith interest at the variegated crowd. Many of the men woregreat, gold rings in their ears, something entirely new to thefive, and others were tattooed in strange designs. They drankdeep and swore much and loudly in strange tongues. Also, theysmoked cigarros, cigarritos, and pipes, and there was scarcelyone present who did not have either knife or pistol or both atbelt.

　　"Undoubtedly there is more than one pirate from the Gulf or theCaribbean among them," said Lieutenant Bernal, "but the piratesperhaps are not the worst. Louisiana and New Orleans can supplymany a desperate villain of their own."

　　"Sent by Europe!" said Paul.

　　"Truly so. An old country always seeks to disgorge such peopleupon a new one. But Monsieur Gilibert, the proprietor of thisinn, on the whole, maintains good order among his customers. Asyou can now see, Monsieur Gilibert is a man of parts."

　　The proprietor, wearing a cook's cap and white apron, emergedthat moment from his kitchen. He was not above supervising, andeven doing his own cooking, and, because of it, his inn hadacquired a great reputation for excellence of food, as well asdrink.

　　Many of the French in New Orleans were Provencals, but MonsieurGilibert was from the North of France, a huge, flaxen-haired manwith a large square chin, and a fearless countenance. His blueeye roved around the room and lighted upon the five and theirhost, Lieutenant Diego Bernal, at the secluded table. He notedthat every one of the five had a long rifle leaning by his chair,and he shrewdly surmised that they were from the wilderness ofthe far North.

　　Monsieur Francois Eugene Gilibert did not love the Spanish,although he did like Lieutenant Diego Bernal, who was a Catalanand therefore, in the opinion of Monsieur Gilibert, almost aFrenchman. Neither did he like the passing of New Orleans fromthe French into the hands of the Spanish, although trade was asgood as ever at his Inn of Henri Quatre, despite the narrowSpanish rule, which was not to his taste. It was perhaps onehalf his love of freedom and one-half his objection to the ruleof Spain that made him look with friendly eyes upon any farwanderers from Kaintock.

　　He strolled to the table and greeted Lieutenant Bernal, whoreturned his greeting pleasantly and gave the names of the five.

　　"They come from Kaintock," said the lieutenant, significantly,"and they do not like Francisco Alvarez."

　　"Ah," said Monsieur Gilibert, who also spoke English. "I do notlove that man Alvarez. He is the enemy of the French."

　　"Not more than he is of Kaintock," said the lieutenant. Then heturned to the five and said:

　　"I did not bring you here merely to hear words. I wish somethingto drink for my friends, kind Monsieur Gilibert. The inn hasrum of both New England and Barbadoes, Spanish and French wines.Now what shall it be?"

　　He turned to the five, and as they answered, one by one, the eyesof the young Spanish lieutenant opened wider and wider inastonishment. They had never tasted rum and were quite sure theywould not care for it. Wine they knew almost as little about,using what they had found on "The Galleon" chiefly as a medicine,and they ended, one and all, by choosing a mild West Indiandrink, a kind of orange water. Lieutenant Bernal reached overand with his two hands felt gingerly of Henry's mighty right arm.

　　"Do you mean to tell me," he said, "that such a muscle and such abody have been built up and nourished by things as mild as orangewater?"

　　"Not orange water, but plain water," replied Henry laughing."But in Maryland where I was born, and in Kentucky, where I'vebeen growing up, the water is very good, clear, pure, and cold."

　　"Will you kindly stand up a moment?" said the lieutenant.

　　Henry promptly stood up and then Lieutenant Diego Bernal,standing by the side of him, was about a head the shorter. Thenthe young lieutenant made a wry face.

　　"And I have drunk wine all my life," he said plaintively, "and hehas drunk only water!"

　　The two sat down again, and the others laughed. Their talk andactions had attracted the attention of a number in the room, anda large man with great gold bands in his ears, rose and saunteredover toward them. He was a dark fellow, evidently a West IndianSpaniard with a dash of Carib.

　　"I have drunk rum and wine and all other liquors all my life," hesaid, "but I am neither little nor weak."

　　His tone was truculent, and his flushed face indicated that hehad already taken too much.

　　"Go away, Menocal," said Monsieur Gilibert, in a voice halfsoothing, half warning. "I do not wish my guests to be annoyed."

　　But Menocal would not turn away. He put his hand upon Henry'sshoulder.

　　"This is a great youth," he said. "They grow large in the newcountry to the north that they call Kaintock, but I, AlonzoMenocal of Santo Domingo, am the stronger. Stand up, thou youthof Kaintock, by the side of me!"

　　Henry promptly stood up again, and the young giant towered aboveAlonzo Menocal of Santo Domingo, tall though the West Indian was.Moreover he had greater breadth of shoulder and a deeper chest.

　　"Ha, thou Kaintock!" exclaimed Menocal, "thou art the taller andthe larger, but I am the stronger, as I shall quickly prove!"

　　The size of Henry acted as an irritant upon Menocal, alreadyflushed with intoxicants, and he seized the youth by the waist inan attempt to hurl him to the floor and thus prove his superiorstrength. Henry, with an instant, powerful effort, threw off theencircling arms, seized the West Indian by both shoulders, andmade use of a trick that Shif'less Sol had taught him.

　　He thrust the man backward with a mighty shove, put out his foot,and Menocal went over it. But the West Indian did not touch thefloor. Henry caught him by the neck and waist, and, with a greatheave, lifted him high above his head. He held him there amoment, and then said gravely to Monsieur Francois EugeneGilibert:

　　"Shall I cast him through yonder window, or put him back in thechair in which he was sitting before he came to us uninvited?"

　　Monsieur Gilibert looked longingly at the window - he was a manof strength and dexterity himself - and he admired great strengthand great dexterity in others - but motives of prudence andhumanity prevailed.

　　"Put him back in his chair," he said.

　　Henry walked all the way across the room and gently put thehalf-stunned man in a sitting position in his chair. A roar ofapplause shook the room at this remarkable performance, andMonsieur Gilibert was not the slackest among those who cheered.Never before had the Inn of Henri Quatre witnessed such anextraordinary feat of strength. Lieutenant Diego Bernal sprangto his feet and again seized Henry's right hand in both of his.

　　"Senior," he exclaimed, "it is an honor to me to deem myself yourfriend!"

　　Alonzo Menocal arose from his chair and came across the room.Paul's hand moved to the butt of the pistol in his belt, but theintentions of the West Indian were not hostile.

　　"Thou hast conquered," he said to Henry in his queer thee andthou-English. "Thou art not only the taller and the larger, butalso the stronger and the more skillful. It is the first timethat Alonzo Menocal was ever picked up, carried across a room,and put down in his chair, as a mother puts her baby to bed."

　　He put out his hand in quite an American fashion, and Henry shookit, glad that the man was good-natured. More applause greetedthis act of friendship by the two and, taking advantage of it,the five went out, accompanied by Lieutenant Bernal, all in greatgood humor.

　　Night was coming on, and they felt that it was time to return to" The Galleon." A man was already lighting the smoking oil lampsthat hung from the wooden arms of the posts, and from one of theforts a sentinel was calling the hour.

　　New Orleans looked better under the softening hue of thetwilight. Many of the asperities that go as a matter of coursewith newness were hidden, but the smells remained.

　　"Wish I could sleep in the woods to-night, with nuthin' but treesrunnin' away at least ten miles in every direction," said LongJim.

　　"It will be all right in our boat on the river," said Paul.

　　"I think I shall go with you as far as your boat," saidLieutenant Bernal.

　　"You're welcome. Come on," said Henry, confident of hisfriendship.

　　The five and the lieutenant walked swiftly toward theMississippi.