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Show 190 TilE LILY .AND TIT£ TOTEM. slept, Trenchant passed the channel of tho Bahamas, and made over for the settlement on May River. The route taken was unsuspected, until the morning of the 25th of 1\brch, when they found themselves upon the coast of Florida. lly this tim e, it was too late to prevent the determination of those who had resolved upon their return to La Caroline. Tho latter had grown strong by consultation together, and the true men urged the less guilty of the conspirators wit.h promises of pardon at the hands of Laudouniere. This hope gradually extended to some of tho most guilty; but the discussion which led to this conclusion, was productive of a scene wbich strikingly illustrates the profligacy of the human heart, particularly when it once throws off therestraints of social authority. The unhappy criminals, in nominal command of the roving brigantine were prepared to dance upon the brink of the preeipiee,-to sport with the dangers immediately before them, and convert into a. farce the very tragedy whose dcnonCmcnt they had every reason to dread. 'Yell charged with wine, and quaffing full beakr.rs to fortune, they suddenly conceived the idea of a mock court of justice, for the trial of their own offences. The idea was !lcarcely suggested than it was fastened upon by the wanton imaginations of this besotted crew. The court was convened, on the deck of the vessel, as it would have been at La Caroline. One of tho parties personated the character of the judge : another counterfeited the costume and manner of Laudonniere, and appeared as the accuser. Counsel was heard on both sides. There were officers to wait upon and obey the decrees of the court. The eases 'vcrc elaborately argued. Heavy accusations were made; ingenious pleas put in ; and in the very excess of their recklessness, their ingenuity became triumphant. They showed theru&elvcs oxecllont actors, if not excellent men; Til£ MUTINEERS AT SE A. 191 and caught from their own art, a momentary respite from the oppressive doubts which hung upon their destinies. It was somewhat ominous, howeYer, that their judge-himself one of the most guilty-should say to them, when summing up for judgment" l\Takc your casc as clear as you please-exert your ingenuity as you may, in finding ex.cu!cs, yet, take my word for it, that, wl1cn you reach Ln. Caroline, if LauJonnicrc causes you not to sw ing for it, then 1 willnev!'r take him for an l10ncst man again." Tbia may have been int.eudcd as a more jocularity. But fate frequently shapes our own 'vords, as slJC does thoao of the oracle, in that double sense, which confounds the judgment whilo it ensures the doom. The counterfeit judge spoke propl1 ctieal!y. H was only when the offenders were fairly in the hands of Laudonniore, beyond escape or remedy, that tlJCy were taught to apprehend that they had too greatly exaggerated their seuso of hi!! mercy. lie detnclJCd immediately from tho rest four of the leading criminals, who were put in fetters. That was tlJC judgment that prefigured their doom. They were sentllnccd to be hnnged. They strove to question this judgment. The pleasant jest which they had enjoyed on ship-board was quite too recent, to suffer them to forega the hope that this summary decision upon their fate would turn out a. j est also. Dut when they could doubt no longer, three of them took to their prayers . with an appearance of much real contrition. The fourth,-a. sturdy villain,--still had his faith in human agency. He appealed for protection to his friends and comrades. "\Vhat," said he," brethren and companions, will you suffJr us to die so shamefully?" "These arc none of your companions," said Laudonnierc ;- |
