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Show 134 TIIE LILY AND THE TOTE~f. the preference from his superior. It was no proper disparagement of the claims of others that D'Erlach Lad been thus preferred. That he was a favorite, W!l.S1 pcrllaps, quite as much due to his own merits as to the blind partiality of his superior. In choosing him for the command of his most important expeditions, Laudon~ nicre was, in fact, doing simple juBtice to the superior endowments of caution, prudence, moderation, and firmness, which the young officer confessedly possessed in very mninent degree. Dut Le GcnrC was not the person to recognize these arguments, or to acknowledge the superior fitness of hi:! colleague. Ilis discontents, fanned by the arts of others, and daily receiving provocation from new causes, finally wrought his blood into such a stato of feverish irritation, as left but litllc wantiug to goad him to actual insubordination and mutiny. Laudonnicrc was not ignorant of the factious sp irit of his discontented lieutenant. He bad been warned by D'Erlach that he was a person to be watched, and his own observations had led him equally to this COJn iction. His eye, accordingly, was fixed keenly and ijUspiciously upon the offende r, but cautiously, howe fer, so as to avoid gi\·ing unnecessary pain or provocation. But Laudonnierc's vigilnuce was partial only; and his suspicions were by no means so intense as those of D'EI'Iach. Desides, l1is attention was di\·ided among l1is discontents. He bad become painfully conscious that Le CcnrO was not alone in his factious feelings. 1 lc felt that the spirit of this officer was widely spreading in the garrison. The moods of others, sullen, peevish, and doubtful, had alrca.dy startled his fea.rs; nnd ho too well knew the character of his personnel, nod from what sources they had been drawn, not to be apprehensive of their tempers. Signs of insubordination had been shown already, on various occasions; and had not .. THE CONSPIRACY OF L£ O£Nnt. 135 Laudonniere been of that character which more easily frets with its doubts than provides against them, he might have legitimately employed a salutary punishment in anticipa.ting worse offences. The looks of many had become habitually sullen, their words few and abrupt when addressed to their commander, while their tasks were performed coldly and with evident reluctance. Without exhibiting any positive or very decided conduct, by which to leave themselves open to rebuke, their deportment was such as to betray the impatience of bitter and resentful moods, which only forbore open utterance by reason of their fears. Laudonniere, without having nbsoluto canso to punish, was equally wanting in tho nice tact which can, adroitly, and without a fall from dignity, conciliate tho inferior. Angry at the appearances which he could neither restrain nor chastise, he was not sufficiently the commander to descend happily to soothe. In this distracted condition of mind, ho prepared to despatch his third and last vessel to France, to implore tho long-expected supplies and assistance. It was a fine evening, at tho close of September, such an evening as we frequently experience during that month in the South, when a cool breeze, arising from the ocean, ascends to the shores and the forests, and compensates, by its exquisite and soothing freshness, for tho burning beat and suffocating atmosphere of the day. Our Frenchmen at La. Caroline were prepared to enjoy the embraces of this soothing minister. Some walked upon thl' parapets of the fortress, others lay at length along tho bluff of the river, while others agnin, in the shade of tref's farther in laud, grouped together in pleasant communion, enjoyed tho song or the story, with as much gniety naif all their cnres were nbout to be buried with the suu that now hung, shorn of his fiery locks, just above the horizon. Lnudonniorc passed nmong these groups |
