Charley Laurel | Page 2

smooth.

The first lieutenant of the Laurel, who commanded the expedition,
leading in the gig, away the boats pulled, keeping close together, and
looking as they glided along like some huge serpent creeping on his
prey. The entrance to the bay was gained without the boats being
discovered. They dashed on more rapidly than before. In a few minutes
they would be hard at work, the seamen slashing away with their
cutlasses, and the marines firing, and pronging with their muskets and
bayonets at their fellow-creatures.
Strange that men should like such work. Dick confessed he did, though
he could not exactly say why.
The officers did their duty admirably; the marines were landed, and the
blue-jackets were springing on shore before a shot was fired from the
town.
Dick, who belonged to the first division, pushed on in that direction
with his party, while the other two attended to their destined duty. The
gates of the fort, however, being closed, the intended rush could not be
accomplished; and it was evident from the rapid firing that some hot
work was going on there. Instead also of at once entering the town, the
first party found their progress impeded by a somewhat numerous body
of troops, who, quartered near at hand, turned out in time to defend it.
The Frenchmen fought well, Dick acknowledged, though some had
neither boots nor coats on, and many were destitute of other garments.
They were, however, driven back inch by inch, till some turned tail and
fled; the rest soon afterwards doing the same, followed by the victors,
who fired indiscriminately at every one they saw in front of them. On
such an occasion many of the unfortunate inhabitants were too likely to
suffer, and many who had no arms in their hands, or had thrown them
down and cried out for quarter, were shot before the officers could halt
their men.
Meeting with two streets forking in different directions, some in the
darkness had followed one and some the other. Flames were seen also
bursting in the rear from houses set on fire either intentionally or by
accident; while shouts and shrieks and cries arose in all directions.
Altogether, the little town, which a few minutes before had been

slumbering peacefully, was now the scene of havoc, terror, and
confusion.
As Dick, cutlass in hand, was making his way along the dark street, a
piteous cry reached his ears, and looking down, he saw lying wounded
on the ground a black woman, holding up to him a little white child.
"Oh, save him! save him! or he will be killed!" she exclaimed.
"Of course I will," answered Dick, tucking the child under his left arm;
"and I'll help you into a house, where you may be safe."
He was about to perform the humane act he proposed, when there was a
cry, "The French are coming on in force--fall back, men! fall back!"
Dick had only time to draw the poor woman on one side, when he was
compelled, with his companions, rapidly to re-trace his steps. Not
knowing where to deposit the child in safety, he kept it under his arm;
and though on most occasions he would have been in the rank nearest
the foe, he now, according to orders, retreated as fast as he could. Many
of the other men had bundles of things they had picked up, but they
were certainly not little children.
The boats were reached at last, though not until a good many of the
gallant jollies and several of the blue-jackets had been shot down by a
large body of French troops, who had come in from the farther side of
the town. They were again, however, driven back far enough to allow
the marines and sailors to embark.
Dick, unhurt, had reached the barge, still carrying his burden, for he
had not the heart to throw it down, and could not find any safe place to
put it in.
The fort had not been taken, but five merchantmen were captured and
towed out of the harbour, in spite of the hot fire through which they had
to pass.
Captain Blunt was very angry on finding that the men had brought

away plunder from the town; and they were ordered to deliver it up,
that it might be sent back to the inhabitants, whom, as he said, he had
no intention of injuring.
Dick Driver, who among others had been seen to come aboard with a
bundle, was ordered aft.
"Please, sir," said Dick, as he presented himself, holding a fine child in
his arms of about four years old, "it ain't any booty, but a lawful gift. I
was axed to take care of it, and I promised I would, and so I have."
"I do believe