Page 37

F ive hundred miles to the northwest, Jean Lafitte was cursing in a steady stream.

His temper had been on a short fuse in the weeks following the theft of his Pride and Sebastien Fonteyne’s subsequent departure.

His brother Pierre was still in jail. One of his ships had gone down in a blazing battle with a Spaniard off the coast of Panama.

Add to that, three of his barges laden with black-market goods had been confiscated by the American authorities in New Orleans by order of the wart in his ass, Governor Claiborne.

His mood had only blackened when the knock came on his door, and a young pointy-nosed officer in British blues marched in at the head of a small delegation of four equally stiff-necked compatriots, all of whom stamped to a halt and saluted smartly.

The officer, stepped forward, snapped his hat off his head and tucked it under his arm, then handed Lafitte a leather portfolio. “Captain W. H. Percy sends his regards, M’sieur Lafitte.”

“Who the bloody blazes is W. H. Percy? And who the bloody hell are you?”

“Lieutenant Andrew Ewert, at your service, sir. Captain Percy is the senior naval commander in the Gulf of Mexico. He sends his regards from our base in Pensacola and requests that you read the enclosed documents. He would be further pleased if you honor him with a reply as soon as possible.”

Lafitte lifted the flap of leather on the billfold and peered at the thick sheaf of papers inside. “He expects me to read all of this?”

The pretentious look on the young man’s face was mirrored in the smirks that passed between his adjutants, who supposed that Lafitte could not read at all. “I am authorized to relay the contents, if that is preferred.”

Jean sat back down and propped his boots on the corner of his desk. “By all means, relay them.”

The young man stared at the muddy boots for a moment, then restored his lickspittle smile.

“Captain Percy wishes to advise you that, due to continued and unrelenting acts of piracy against merchant shipping vessels, he stands in receipt of an order to attack and destroy Barataria Bay. His fleet is prepared to act on his command.”

“How thoughtful of him to warn me.”

“However,” the officer continued as if he did not want to lose his place in what he had memorized.

“Should you and your Baratarians agree to join forces with the British, as our allies in the dispute with the American rebels, there will be no attack. Moreover, should you pledge loyalty to the king, he is authorized to offer each and every man amongst your company, from captain to powder monkey, amnesty for any involvement in past crimes. Further, at the resolution of hostilities with the rebels, you and your men will also be offered lands within His Majesty’s colonies in America and forthwith be recognized as British subjects. ”

“Forthwith?” Lafitte spread his hands wide. “The king’s generosity appears to know no bounds.”

“As part of your cooperation of course, the navy would require the use of all the boats and ships under your command as well as the enlistment of all gunners and fighters to aid in the capture of New Orleans and the further invasion of Louisiana.”

Lafitte said nothing. He looked at each of the stone-faced adjutants in turn, staring until their cocksure arrogance flickered and they lowered their eyes.

“As an added incentive,” Ewert continued, “Captain Percy has the authority to offer a payment of thirty thousand pounds sterling to be apportioned … at your discretion, of course … for convincing your fellow captains to join our efforts.”

Lafitte’s eyebrow twitched. Thirty thousand British pounds was a great deal of money.

“Lastly, and as a gesture of good will, M’sieur, your brother Pierre Lafitte will be released from jail.”

Lafitte’s eyes widened out of their creases.

“ Vraiment ? Such largesse. But surely your Captain Percy understands that I cannot speak for every man in Barataria Bay. The offers must be put before them and all must be allowed to voice their opinions and concerns. This will, of course, require time.”

“Time, M’sieur Lafitte? How much time?”

Behind his small, dark eyes, Lafitte was trying to estimate how long it would take to empty his warehouses and safeguard their valuable contents.

Outwardly, he casually waved a hand. “My men are scattered here and there through the bayou and it will take, at the very least, a fortnight to gather them together.”

“Two weeks,” the officer said, frowning.

“A fortnight, oui . Even then, some may not be that easy to persuade. We shall of course require the thirty thousand pounds be delivered in coin rather than paper notes. But I shall surely read through all of these documents and present W.H. Percy’s offers with as much enthusiasm as may be warranted. ”

When his flat smile gave no indication there would be any further discussion, Lieutenant Ewert offered a curt bow. “I will, of course, convey your requirements to Captain Percy.”

“Along with my regards,” Jean added, “and my thanks for his generous offers of amnesty and land grants which will also be in writing with all appropriate seals of authority from Governor Claiborne.”

“In writing? Why yes. Yes, of course. In writing and filed with the local magistrate’s court.”

“In the meantime, I shall eagerly await my brother’s safe return to Barataria. The scourge of being branded a pirate by these ungrateful Americans leaves a lasting bad taste in the mouth.”

“We can fully sympathize,” Ewert said with an obsequious nod.

“And now gentlemen, it would seem I have some important matters to discuss with my captains. You can find your way out?”

All five men snapped smartly to attention. “We shall convey your amiable reception of the Crown’s offers to Captain Percy and hopefully win the disposition of your men to join us in our endeavor to reinstate British rule in the colonies.”

“You will have my answer in two weeks time,” Lafitte said.

Those two weeks had come and gone. During that same time, he had received a final rejection from the American council in New Orleans. They did not want or need his help. In fact, he was bluntly warned, if he showed his face anywhere near New Orleans, he would be arrested.

Following one last direct appeal to General Jackson, including an offer to support the American efforts with manpower and munitions, the surly response had gone one step further, branding him and his men ‘a hellish band of pirates’ who would all be hung from the gallows if caught.

Angered by both sides, he had made his own preparations.

The captains of his merchant ships had been ordered to load as much cargo as they could from the bulging warehouses.

He had watched as thousands … tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods were removed.

He loaded every barge, carrack, and longboat with casks of powder and barrels of shot until the water splashed over the tops of the bulwarks.

These he sent into the swamp and marshlands, ordering the men to hide the valuable caches of weapons and supplies where bigger ships could not follow.

After two weeks of sleepless days and nights, his men were exhausted and filthy. There were still ships in the harbor, desperately trying to take on cargo and make good their escape, but as the sun rose that fateful morning, they found both entrances to the Bay blocked by gun boats.