The Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the Mississippi

by Joseph A. Altsheler

  CHAPTER XIV

  NEW ORLEANS

  They sailed and rowed steadily on for several days. Once or twice they sawcanoes or boats containing white men, who regarded them curiously, butnone approached. They inferred that they were now very near New Orleans,and all the five were alert with anticipation. Besides the accomplishmentof their great task, they were about to visit a metropolis, a seat ofgovernment, a city of eight or ten thousand people, commanding the road tothe heart of the North American continent, swarming with many races, anddestined, as all the world then believed, to be the largest place ineither America. It is no wonder that the bosoms of the five throbbed withcuriosity, and that they looked forward to strange and varied sights.

  "Now, Jim," said Shif'less Sol in a warning tone to Long Jim, "I've gotadvice to give you. I wuz in a big town once. I told you about that time Iwent to Baltimore when I wuz a little boy, an' so I'm fit to tell you howto behave. New Or-lee-yuns ain't like the woods, Jim. Don't you be toohandy with your gun. Ef you see a man follerin' along behind you ez ef hewuz trailin' you, don't you up an' take a shot at him. Like ez not he'sabout his business, only it happens to be in the same direction thatyou're goin'. An', Jim, don't you go to gittin' dizzy, through seein' somany people about. Mebbe you don't think thar will be sech a crowd, butyou'll believe it when you see it."

  "Sol Hyde," rejoined Long Jim indignantly, "I'm sorry New Or-lee-yunsain't right at the sea, 'cause the sea is salt, so I've heard, an' then efI wuz to dip you in it three or four times it would do you a pow'ful lotuv good. Salt is shorely mighty helpful in the curin' up uv fresh things."

  "There goes another of those canoes," said Paul, "but I can't tell whetherit's a white man or an Indian in it."

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

  "Time to think 'bout tyin' up for the dark," said Tom Ross. "We might goon all night, but we need to save our strength fur to-morrow. What do yousay to that little cove over thar on the west bank, Henry?"

  "Looks as if it would be the right place," replied Henry, "and it iscertainly time to stop. The sun seems to go down faster here than it doesIn Kentucky."

  The twilight was spreading swiftly over the arch from west to east as theyentered the cove and tied "The Galleon" to a live oak. Paul leapedjoyfully ashore, glad to stretch his limbs again. The others quicklyfollowed, and they set about gathering wood to build a fire. They were outof the Indian country now and they had no need to be cautious.

  Paul bestirred himself looking for brushwood. Presently he found at theedge of the water a dead bough which was long enough to be broken intoseveral sticks of convenient length. He picked it up, and for the purposeof breaking it brought it down heavily on a large brown log lying in themud near the water.

  To Paul's amazement and horror, the big brown log got into action ateither end. One end, in the shape of a tail, whipped around at him, barelymissing him, and the other end, splitting itself horizontally in half,revealed huge jaws lined with terrible teeth. Paul sprang back with a cry,and Henry, who was near, rifle in hand, fired a ball into the monster'sbrain. The big brown log, that was no log, turned partially over and died.

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

  "I've heard of them, too," said Paul, "but I never thought I'd walk almostinto 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 inKentucky, a good honest bear, or even a sneakin' panther, would beashamed to look you in the face after tryin' to play sech a low-downtrick on a man."

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

  "I'm thinkin' that we'd better build our fire big," said Long Jim. "Idon't want to wake up in the mornin' an' find myself devoured by analligator, jest when I wuz about to reach the great town uv NewOr-lee-yuns."

  But they were not molested that night by either man or animal, and thenext day, watchful and surcharged with interest, they approached NewOrleans, which was bulking so large to them. The river looped out into acrescent and narrowed greatly. As they came to the city, the Mississippidid not seem to them to be more than a third of a mile wide, but they knewthat it was extremely deep.

  But there, snugly within the crescent, lay New Orleans, a town enclosedwithin palisaded fortifications that faced the levee for about a thousandyards, and that ran back perhaps half as far. The levee was lined withvessels. Already New Orleans was famous for shipping, and they saw theflags of many nations. Schooners there were and brigs and brigantines, andbarks and barkentines, and other craft from Europe and the West Indies andSouth America. Near the shore was a great, high ship, from which the redand yellow flag of Spain fluttered in more than one place, while themuzzles 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," said Shif'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, manned by white men, redmen, yellow men, and brown men. They heard strange cries in foreigntongues, and now and then the sound of a trumpet blown at one of the fortsin the palisaded wall. Officers in brilliant uniforms appeared on thelevee.

  The eyes of Long Jim Hart opened wider and wider.

  "It shorely is a big town," he said. "Sol, I'd been thinkin' that you an'Paul wuz tellin' a good deal that ain't, but I reckon it's the truth. Theworld has a lot more people than I thought it had. I'm pow'ful glad Icame."

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

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

  They brought "The Galleon" to a stop, and the other boat came alongside.The officer in the bow was a Catalan, richly dressed, and small, but witha thin, alert face. He looked at the five with as much curiosity as theylooked at him. Secretly he admired their splendid shoulders and chests,and their obvious strength. He was acute enough, too, to guess whencethey came. Lieutenant Diego Bernal had not been two years in New Orleansfor nothing.

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

  "Yes," replied Henry, "we are all the way from Kentucky, and we have animportant message for the Governor General, Bernardo Galvez. Can you tellus how to reach him?"

  Lieutenant Diego Bernal glanced at "The Galleon," which was obviously ofSpanish build, but he was a shrewd officer who would make his way in theworld and he knew that many strange things passed inspection in this greatFranco-Spanish metropolis of New Orleans.

  "His Excellency, the Governor General," he replied, "is now at his houseat the corner of Toulouse street and Rue de la Levee, but it is too latefor you to see him to-day. To-morrow morning you may secure audience withhim if you have the important message that you say."

  The five disregarded the ironical tone in his voice. They were good enoughjudges of character to surmise that Lieutenant Diego Bernal, whose nameand career were unknown to them, did not care a particle how they had comeinto possession of the boat which was so obviously of Spanish build. Therewas no advantage to him in asking too many questions, and he calmly wavedthem to a landing.

  They pulled in and tied their boat to the levee, while men and women,white, yellow, brown, and black, and all the colors between, stood aboutand looked at the giants from Kaintock, where people were reported to beof such extraordinary size and ferocity, and where they certainly were, astheir own eyes could tell them, of uncommon height and strength, even boyssuch as they saw Henry and Paul to be.

  While the five were engaged in this task, _rabba
is_, or peddlingmerchants, some Provencals and some Catalans came to sell them goods,which they carried in coffin-shaped vehicles pushed before them. They hadwares, mostly small articles from Spain and France and the West Indies.Colored women carrying immense cans of milk or coffee on their headspassed by or lingered in hope of a sale. Others were calling for sale_callas_ and cakes _tous chauds_ in monotonous, drawling voices.Negresses, also, were trying to sell _belles chandelles_, which were dirtycandles made from green myrtle wax, the chief light then sold in the city.

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

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

  "Depends on what they want to rob me uv," replied Long Jim with a grin. "Inever had more'n ten shillin's at one time in my life, an' I've got apurty strong grip on my rifle an' the clothes that I hev on."

  "I think we'd better go ashore an' do a little scoutin'," said Tom Ross."It's always well to know the groun' on which you're goin' 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 taken readily incosmopolitan New Orleans, and with two shillings they hired a leveewatchman, whom they judged they could trust, to look after "The Galleon."Then, rifle on shoulder, they entered the fortified city by the gatecalled _Chemin des Tchoupitoulas_. Spain, officially at least, was thefriend of the colonies and the enemy of England, and the sentinels at thegate readily passed them after a few questions.

  Here they asked again for the Governor General, Bernardo Galvez, and thestatement of Lieutenant Diego Bernal that he could not be seen wasconfirmed. He had arrived only a few hours before from a two days'expedition down the river, and was now immersed in important papers thathad awaited his coming.

  They saw the Governor General's house, a one-story building fronting theriver with a gallery on one side, gardens on the other, and kitchen andoutbuildings behind. They looked longingly at it, as they desired verymuch to see Bernardo Galvez at once. But presently they passed on into thePlace d'Armes, a wide open space used as a review ground. At the verymoment they entered it a company of Spanish soldiers were going throughtheir evolutions, and, after the fashion of to-day, children and theirdark-faced nurses were watching them. The five did not think much of thesoldiers, who seemed to them to be dwarfed and without zeal.

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

  Paul's gaze wandered from the soldiers, and he saw in a corner of thePlace d'Armes a great wooden gallows that made him shudder. It was agallows very often used, too, and any one could have pointed out to Paulthe spot in the middle of the Place d'Armes where five gallant Frenchgentlemen, among the best citizens of New Orleans, had been shot not longbefore for planning to throw off the rule of Spain and make Louisiana afree republic.

  They strolled on, still filled with curiosity and gratifying it. They sawmany buildings that surpassed anything hitherto in their experience, thebrick parish church, on the site of which the Cathedral of St. Louis wasafterwards built, the arsenal, the jail, and the house of the Capuchins,who had lately triumphed over the Jesuits. The largest building of allthat they saw was the convent of the Ursuline Nuns, standing in the citysquare on the river front, and this was, in fact, the largest building inNew Orleans.

  While there were many houses of brick, the cheaper were of cypress wood,and the sidewalks were only four or five feet wide, with a wooden drainfor a gutter. There was no paving of the streets, which, now deep in dust,would turn to quagmires when the rain came. At long intervals were woodenposts with projecting arms from which hung oil lamps, to be lighted whennightfall came.

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

  "I never smelt sech smells afore in all my life," he said, pointing to theheaps of garbage scattered about. "A big town like this here is pow'fulinterestin', but it ain't clean. Paul, remember them great forests up tharin Kentucky an' across the Ohio! Remember how clean an' nice the groundis! Remember all them 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, every three or fourhundred yards! Remember all them nice smells uv the wild flowers, an' thetrees, an' the grass, an' me settin' at the foot uv the biggest tree uv'em all, cookin' on a roarin' fire, fat, juicy buffaler an' deer steaksfur you fellers!"

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

  "Not homesick eggzackly, but I jest want to say that a big town like thiskin be mighty interestin', but after I've seed it, give me back our ownclean woods."

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

  They strolled back into the Place d'Armes, where the review was still inprogress, and where more people were gathering. The women werebare-headed, and generally wore a short round skirt, and long basque likeovergarments, the two invariably of different, but bright, colors. All ofthem wore much ribbon and jewelry, but, as a rule, they were too dark ofcountenance to suit the ideas of the five concerning feminine beauty. Atrare intervals, however, they saw a girl with light hair and light eyesand light complexion, and all these were really handsome.

  "Those, I imagine, are French," said Paul. "We've got into the habit ofthinking of the French as always dark, but many of them are fair. I'veheard our school teacher, Mr. Pennypacker, say so often, and he ought toknow. For the matter of that, some of the Spaniards are light, too."

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

  As they stood in the Place d'Armes looking at the sights, the fivethemselves began to attract much attention. Their height and strength,their long, sender barreled rifles, and their deerskin attire made themhighly picturesque figures. The motley population of New Orleans was usedto all kinds of people, armed or unarmed, but generally armed. These,however, were different. They bore themselves with dignity, there wasabout them an air of absolute simplicity and honesty, and they kept closetogether in a manner that indicated a faithful brotherhood, closer eventhan the brotherhood of blood. They seemed to come from another world thanthat which furnished so many desperate adventurers and former galleyslaves to New Orleans.

  Henry noticed the attention that they were attracting, and he did not likeit.

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

  But before any one could answer he was tapped lightly on the arm and,turning about, he saw the small, trim figure of Lieutenant Diego Bernal,who had been the first man to greet them as they entered New Orleans.

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

  His manner was polite, and Henry met him half way. He had nothing toconceal, and he gave him the names of his comrades and himself. LieutenantBernal all the time was regarding them shrewdly.

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

  "What other facts?" asked Henry.

  "Now, there is the matter of your boat," replied the lieutenant jauntily."I had a belief, wrong no doubt, that she was of Spanish build. I alsoseemed to have a recollection, wrong, too, no doubt, that I had once seenFrancisco Alvarez, the chief of our captains, aboard that boat and bearinghimself in a manner that indicated ownership. I am wrong, no doubt. Myimpressions are often false and my memory always weak. Gladly would Istand correction. Gladly would I be convinced that I am misled by somefancied resem
blance."

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

  Henry, who was always the leader of the five when they were together,looked into the eyes of Diego Bernal, and he seemed to see there thecurious contraction that is called a wink. He gave judgment at onceconcerning Diego Bernal.

  "I take it," he said by way of reply, "that you are no great friend of thecaptain, Francisco Alvarez?"

  "If a higher officer rebukes you unjustly and sneers at a commander whomyou respect and like, is it calculated to promote friendship?"

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

  "I see what your choice would be if you were compelled to choose betweenBernardo Galvez and Francisco Alvarez," he said. "It may be that you willhave to make such a choice, and I will tell you, too, that the boat didbelong to the Captain Alvarez. We took it from him because, first, he madean outrageous attack upon us; secondly, he is plotting to set all theIndian tribes upon us in Kentucky, aided with Spanish soldiers and Spanishguns, and, thirdly, he hopes to become Governor General of Louisiana, andcommit Spain to an alliance with England in the war upon the Americans."

  Henry spoke boldly and earnestly, and the others nodded assent.

  Lieutenant Diego Bernal, a trim, dandified little man, drew forth from thepocket of his waistcoat a small gold snuff box and delicately took a pinchof snuff, a habit to which the five were unaccustomed.

  "Speak it low, my friend," he said deliberately. "All this, if it be true,is great news, and you do right in coming to New Orleans to see BernardoGalvez. Can you prove it when you see the Governor General?"

  "We can give proofs," replied Henry guardedly.

  "It is well, and I am pleased that I have met you. Know then that I am theenemy of Francisco Alvarez, and that I may aid you. Who can tell? It iswell for strangers to have friends in New Orleans. I have an impressionthat I have some influence. I am usually wrong and my memory is alwaysweak, but this particular impression persists, nevertheless."

  Long Jim opened his mouth in wonder.

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

  Lieutenant Diego Bernal smiled. He was pleased.

  "I learned English when I was a boy," he said, "and now it serves me well.I would hear more of your news, gentlemen, but for the present I wish tooffer you refreshments. Come with me, if you please."

  He led the way into a low building of brick, an inn fashioned after themanner of those in France.

  They entered the public room, which was large and square, with a fairlyclean, sanded floor, and many men about drinking liquors unknown to thefive.

  They took seats at a table in a rather retired corner, and gazed withinterest at the variegated crowd. Many of the men wore great, gold ringsin their ears, something entirely new to the five, and others weretattooed in strange designs. They drank deep and swore much and loudly instrange tongues. Also, they smoked cigarros, cigarritos, and pipes, andthere was scarcely one present who did not have either knife or pistol orboth at belt.

  "Undoubtedly there is more than one pirate from the Gulf or the Caribbeanamong them," said Lieutenant Bernal, "but the pirates perhaps are not theworst. Louisiana and New Orleans can supply many a desperate villain oftheir own."

  "Sent by Europe!" said Paul.

  "Truly so. An old country always seeks to disgorge such people upon a newone. But Monsieur Gilibert, the proprietor of this inn, on the whole,maintains good order among his customers. As you can now see, MonsieurGilibert is a man of parts."

  The proprietor, wearing a cook's cap and white apron, emerged that momentfrom his kitchen. He was not above supervising, and even doing his owncooking, and, because of it, his inn had acquired a great reputation forexcellence of food, as well as drink.

  Many of the French in New Orleans were Provencals, but Monsieur Gilibertwas from the North of France, a huge, flaxen-haired man with a largesquare chin, and a fearless countenance. His blue eye roved around theroom and lighted upon the five and their host, Lieutenant Diego Bernal, atthe secluded table. He noted that every one of the five had a long rifleleaning by his chair, and he shrewdly surmised that they were from thewilderness of the far North.

  Monsieur Francois Eugene Gilibert did not love the Spanish, although hedid like Lieutenant Diego Bernal, who was a Catalan and therefore, in theopinion of Monsieur Gilibert, almost a Frenchman. Neither did he like thepassing of New Orleans from the French into the hands of the Spanish,although trade was as good as ever at his Inn of Henri Quatre, despite thenarrow Spanish rule, which was not to his taste. It was perhaps one halfhis love of freedom and one-half his objection to the rule of Spain thatmade him look with friendly eyes upon any far wanderers from Kaintock.

  He strolled to the table and greeted Lieutenant Bernal, who returned hisgreeting pleasantly and gave the names of the five.

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

  "Ah," said Monsieur Gilibert, who also spoke English. "I do not love thatman Alvarez. He is the enemy of the French."

  "Not more than he is of Kaintock," said the Lieutenant. Then he turned tothe five and said:

  "I did not bring you here merely to hear words. I wish something to drinkfor my friends, kind Monsieur Gilibert. The inn has rum of both NewEngland and Barbadoes, Spanish and French wines. Now what shall it be?"

  He turned to the five, and as they answered, one by one, the eyes of theyoung Spanish lieutenant opened wider and wider in astonishment. They hadnever tasted rum and were quite sure they would not care for it. Wine theyknew, almost as little about, using that they had found on "The Galleon"chiefly as a medicine, and they ended, one and all, by choosing a mildWest Indian drink, 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 a bodyhave been built up and nourished by things as mild as orange water?"

  "Not orange water, but plain water," replied Henry laughing. "But inMaryland where I was born, and in Kentucky, where I've been 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 theside of him, was about a head the shorter. Then the young lieutenant madea wry face.

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

  The two sat down again, and the others laughed. Their talk and actions hadattracted the attention of a number in the room, and a large man withgreat gold bands in his ears, rose and sauntered over toward them. He wasa dark fellow, evidently a West Indian Spaniard with a dash of Carib.

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

  His tone was truculent, and his flushed face indicated that he had alreadytaken too much.

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

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

  "This is a great youth," he said. "They grow large in the new country tothe north that they call Kaintock, but I, Alonzo Menocal of Santo Domingo,am the stronger. Stand up, thou youth of Kaintock, by the side of me!"

  Henry promptly stood up again, and the young giant towered above AlonzoMenocal of Santo Domingo, tall though the West Indian was. Moreover he hadgreater breadth of shoulder and a deeper chest.

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

  The size of Henry acted as an irritant upon Menocal, already flushed withintoxicants, and he seized the youth by the waist in an attempt to hurlhim to the floor and thus prove his superior strength. Henry, with aninstant, powerful effort, threw oft the encircling ar
ms, seized the WestIndian by both shoulders, and made use of a trick that Shif'less Sol hadtaught him.

  He thrust the man backward with a mighty shove, put out his foot, andMenocal went over it. But the West Indian did not touch the floor. Henrycaught him by the neck and waist, and, with a great heave, lifted him highabove his head. He held him there a moment, and then said gravely toMonsieur Francois Eugene Gilibert:

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

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

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

  Henry walked all the way across the room and gently put the half-stunnedman in a sitting position in his chair. A roar of applause shook the roomat this remarkable performance, and Monsieur Gilibert was not the slackestamong those who cheered. Never before had the Inn of Henri Quatrewitnessed such an extraordinary feat of strength. Lieutenant Diego Bernalsprang to his feet and again seized Henry's right hand in both of his.

  "Senor," he exclaimed, "it is an honor to me to deem myself your friend!"

  Alonzo Menocal arose from his chair and came across the room. Paul's handmoved to the butt of the pistol in his belt, but the intentions of theWest 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, but also thestronger and the more skillful. It is the first time that Alonzo Menocalwas ever picked up, carried across a room, and put down in his chair, as amother puts her baby to bed."

  He put out his hand in quite an American fashion, and Henry shook it, gladthat the man was good-natured. More applause greeted this act offriendship by the two and, taking advantage of it, the five went out,accompanied by Lieutenant Bernal, all in great good humor.

  Night was coming on, and they felt that it was time to return to "TheGalleon." A man was already lighting the smoking oil lamps that hung fromthe wooden arms of the posts, and from one of the forts a sentinel wascalling the hour.

  New Orleans looked better under the softening hue of the twilight. Many ofthe asperities that go as a matter of course with newness were hidden, butthe smells remained.

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

  "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," said Lieutenant Bernal.

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

  The five and the lieutenant walked swiftly toward the Mississippi.