by Kirk Munroe
CHAPTER XII.
ENGLAND AND FRANCE COME TO BLOWS.
The Baldwins returned to their home shortly after the departure of thediscomfited officer, and listened with intense interest to Cabot'sreport of all that had taken place during their absence.
"So one but a Yankee would have thought of such a plan!" exclaimedWhite, "or had the cheek to carry it out. But it makes me feel as meanas dirt to have run away and left you to face the music alone."
"You needn't," replied Cabot, "for your absence was one of the mostimportant things, and I couldn't possibly have carried out theprogramme if you had been there. Now, though, we've got to hustle, forI expect that navy chap will be back again to-morrow, and whatever wecan accomplish between now and then will probably end thelobster-packing business so far as this factory is concerned."
That night the workers received a reinforcement, as unexpected as itwas welcome, from the crew of the Yankee schooner, who, led by CaptainBland, came to assist their fellow countryman in his struggle againstforeign oppression. With this timely and expert aid, the canningbusiness was so rushed that by ten o'clock of the next morning, whenthe lookout again reported a launch to be approaching, every can wasfilled and the pack was completed. More than half of it had also beenremoved from the factory and stowed aboard the "Sea Bee," ready fordelivery to the St. Johns purchaser.
"I wish he were here now," said White, "so that we might settle up ourbusiness with him before those chaps arrive."
"Well, he isn't," replied Cabot, "and we must protect the goods as bestwe can until he comes. In the meantime I think you'd better disappearand leave me to manage alone, the same as I did yesterday."
"No. I won't run away again. I'm going to stay and face the music."
"All right," agreed Cabot. "Perhaps it will be just as well, since thefactory is closed sure enough this time. You must let me do all thetalking, though, and perhaps in some way we'll manage to scare 'em offagain."
"If we could have just one day more we'd be all right," said White,"but there they come. Only, I say! They are Frenchmen this time. Seethe flag."
Sure enough. Instead of flying the British Union Jack the launch thatnow appeared in the harbour displayed the tri-colour of the FrenchRepublic. Thus, when Cabot and White reached the wharf, they were justin time to greet their acquaintance of St. Pierre, the lieutenant ofthe French frigate "Isla," whom White had so neatly outwitted in thatport. As he stepped ashore he was accompanied by a sharp-featured,black-browed individual, whom White recognised as M. Delom, proprietorof a French lobster factory located on another shore of the bay.
"That chap has come for pickings and stealings," he remarked in a lowtone.
"Shouldn't wonder," returned Cabot, "for he looks like a thief."
"Ah, ha, Monsieur Baldwin! I haf catch you zis time, an' you cannotnow gif me what you call ze sleep," cried the French lieutenant. "AlsoI am come to siz your property, for you may no more can ze lob of zeFrancaise. Behol'! I have ze aut'orization."
So saying, the officer drew forth and unfolded with a flourish a paperthat he read aloud. It was an order for the confiscation and removalof all property owned by a person, or persons, named Baldwin, and usedby them contrary to law in canning lobsters on the French territory ofNewfoundland, and it was signed: "Charmian, Capitan de Fregate."
"So, Monsieur Baldwin," continued the officer, when he had finished thereading, "you will gif to me ze key of your factory zat I may from itremof ze materiel. I sall also take your schooner for to convey it toze factory of M. Delom. Is it plain, ma intention?"
"Your intention is only too plain," responded White. "You are come toaid that thief in stealing my property; but you are too late, for thefactory no longer belongs to the Baldwin family."
"Ah! Is it so? Who zen belong to it?"
"This gentleman is the present owner," replied White, "and you mustarrange your business with him."
"Who is he?" demanded the Frenchman, surveying Cabot contemptuouslyfrom head to foot. "But I do not care. Ze material mus all ze same beremof."
"I am an American citizen," interrupted Cabot, "and I forbid you totouch my property. If you do so I shall claim damages through theAmerican government, and in the meantime I shall call on the Britishfrigate now in this bay for protection."
"For ze Americains I do not care," cried the Frenchman, assuming atheatrical attitude. "For l'Anglais, pouf! I also care not. When itis my duty I do him. Ze material mus be remof. Allons, mes garcons."
A dozen French bluejackets, armed with cutlasses and pistols, hadgathered behind their leader, and now these sprang forward with ashout, clearing a way through the collected throng of villagers.Advancing upon the main entrance to the factory, they quickly battereddown its door and rushed inside. With them went swarthy-faced Delom,who gloated over the spoil that now seemed within his grasp, and whichwould make his own factory the best equipped on the coast, he wasespecially pleased to note the pack all boxed ready for shipment, andour lads saw him direct the officer's attention to it. As a result thelatter gave an order, and in another minute a file of Frenchbluejackets, each with a case of canned lobster on his shoulder, wasmarching towards the door.
Just as they reached it there came a shout and a tramp of heavy feetfrom the outside. Then a stern voice cried:
"Halt! What are you doing here, you French beggars? Drop those boxesand clear out."
As the Frenchmen halted irresolute, their officer, who could not seewhat was going on, but imagined that some of the villagers wereblocking the entrance, shouted for them to march on and clear away thecanaille who dared oppose them.
The French bluejackets attempted to obey, but, with their first forwardmovement, they were met by an inrush of sturdy British sailors, whosent them and their burdens crashing to the floor in every direction.Some of them as they regained their feet drew their cutlasses, whileothers fell upon the new-comers with their fists. A pistol shot rangout, and a British sailor pitched heavily forward. At the same instantboth officers sprang into the melee, beating back their men with theflat of their swords, and fiercely ordering them to desist from furtherfighting.
Others fell on the new-comers with their fists.]
So sharp had been the brief encounter between these hereditary enemies,that as they sullenly withdrew their clutch from each other's throats aBritish sailor remained on the floor striving to staunch the blood thatspurted from a bullet wound in his leg, while near at hand lay a Frenchbluejacket, as white and motionless as though dead. Another Frenchmanhad a broken arm, while several others on both sides looked askance attheir enemies from blackened eyes and swollen faces.
"Sir!" cried the French lieutenant, the moment order was so farrestored that he could make himself heard, "I am bidden by mycommandant, ze Chevalier Charmian, capitan de frigate 'Isla,' to remofall material from zis building, and in his name I protest against zismos outrage interference."
"Sir," answered the British officer, "I am ordered by my captain todestroy all property contained in this building, and not permit theremoval of a single article."
"But I will not allow it destroyed!"
"And I will not allow it removed."
For a moment the two glared at each other in speechless rage. Then theFrenchman said:
"As humanity compels me to gif immediate attention to my men, woundedby ze unprovoked assault of your barbarians, I sall at once carry zemto my sheep, where I sail immediately also report zis outrage to mycommandant."
"Same here," replied the Englishman, laconically, and with this bothofficers ordered their men to fall back to the launches, carrying withthem their wounded comrades.
During the progress of this thrilling episode our two lads had watchedit in breathless excitement without once thinking of leaving thebuilding, though a back door opened close at hand. So intent were theyupon what was taking place that they did not notice the approach of athird person until he was close beside them and had addressed White byname. He was
the St. Johns travelling man, who had engaged the Baldwinpack for his firm, and now he said in low, hurried tones:
"You fellows want to skip out of this while you can, for that Britishofficer has got orders to arrest you both and carry you to St. Johnsfor trial. Charges--contempt of court and carrying on an illegalbusiness. Awfully sorry I can't take your goods, but order has beenissued that any one handling them will also be arrested and subject toheavy fine. Hurry up. They are making a move, and he'll be lookingfor you directly. Don't let on that I gave you the tip."
With this the man moved away, and without exchanging a word our ladsslipped out of the nearby door.
So fully was the British officer occupied in getting his men back totheir launch without making another attack upon their hated rivals,that not until all were safely on board did he remember that he hadbeen charged to bring off two prisoners. Now he was in a quandary.Those whom he desired were nowhere to be seen, and he dared not leavehis men, whose fighting blood was still at fever heat, long enough togo in search of them. Also the French launch was about to depart, andit would never do for the captain of the "Isla" to be informed of therecent unfortunate encounter in advance of his own commander. So, witha last futile look ashore, he reluctantly gave the order to shove off,and side by side, their crews screaming taunts at each other, the twolaunches raced out of the harbour.
As Cabot and White watched them from a place of snug concealment, thelatter heaved a sigh of relief, saying:
"Well, I'm mighty glad they're gone, and haven't got us with them; butI do wish that fight could have lasted a few minutes longer."
"Wasn't it lovely!" retorted Cabot, "and isn't the lobster industry onthis coast just about the most exciting business in the world!"