Part 49 (1/2)
Lafitte shted to do so,” he replied ”But, pray come ashore and there I will return you your answer after I have seen the great Captain, who is caue inland”
The Britishers readily assented, and both rowed towards the sandy beach, where a great number of pirates of Barrataria had collected
As soon as the boats were in shalloater, Lafitte :
”Do not let o ill with you My followers know that war is now on between Great Britain and the United States, and, if they hear you areyou”
It was as he had said When the Englishst the privateers, pirates and ss! To the yard-arlishmen! Send the hounds to New Orleans and to jail!”
But Lafitte dissuaded the multitude fro, where he opened the package, finding a proclamation addressed to the inhabitants of Louisiana, by Col Edward Nichalls--British co the arm of the British Govern hilish
”If you will but battle with us,” said Captain Lockyer--one of the British officers--”ill give you coate, and will make you a Post Captain You will also receive thirty thousand dollars,--payable at Pensacola”
Lafitte looked dubiously at hiive answer in a few days,” he replied, with courtesy
”You are a Frenchman,” continued the British Captain ”You are not in the service of the United States, nor likely to be Coive us a reply at once”
Captain Lafitte was obdurate, for--strange as it may seem--he wished to inform the officers of the State Governlish So he withdrew to his own hut
As he did this, the pirates seized the British officers, dragged theuard was stationed at the door, while cries went up from every quarter:
”To New Orleans with the scoundrels! A yard-arm for the butchers! A rope's end for the scurvy tars!”
Lafitte was furious when he learned of this, and, after haranguing the crowd, had the Britishers released
”If you treatof truce as prisoners,” he cried, ”you break one of the first rules of warfare You will get the same treatment if you, yourselves, are captured, and you will lose the opportunity of discovering what are the projects of the British upon Louisiana”
His ood sense of these words of advice, and acted accordingly
Early the nextthe officers were escorted to their pinnace with ies from Lafitte, who norote a letter to Captain Lockyer, which shows him to have been a h and tumble” pirate--without education or refinement He said:
”BARRATARIA, 4th Sept, 1814
”TO CAPTAIN LOCKYER,
”SIR:--The confusion which prevailed in our ca, and of which you have a co in a precise manner to the object of your ive you all the satisfaction that you desire However, if you could grant ht, I would be entirely at your disposal at the end of that time
”This delay is indispensable to enable me to puta boat to the Eastern point of the pass, where I will be found You have inspired me with more confidence than the Admiral--your superior officer--could have done, himself With you alone I wish to deal, and from you, also, I will claim in due time, the reward of the services which I may render you
”Your very respectful servant,
”J LAFITTE”
His object in writing this letter--you see--was, by appearing to accede to the proposals, to give time to communicate the affair to the officers of the State Government of Louisiana and to receive from them instructions how to act, under circumstances so critical and important to his own country: that is, the country of his adoption