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Read Ebook: Napoleon's Young Neighbor by Reed Helen Leah
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Ebook has 1041 lines and 48684 words, and 21 pages
days, when there were no cables to flash the news of coming events, when there were no swift steamboats to act as heralds, it seems strange that in more than seven months no news of the escape from Elba had reached the little island.
Now, when the people of St. Helena heard the news, they were greatly disturbed. They were afraid that the coming of Napoleon might cause changes in their government, and they were so fond of the Governor that they did not wish to lose him.
Their fears were well grounded, for when Sir George Cockburn landed it was found that he had received an appointment that gave him the chief civil and military power on the island, while Governor Wilks took secondary rank. Later it was learned that on account of the distinction of the prisoner, a governor of higher rank than Colonel Wilks would be sent from England to supersede him, a governor who held his appointment directly from the Crown.
Two or three days after the visit of the officer to The Briars, Betsy and her brothers and sister were in a state of great excitement.
"Ah, I hope papa will not be killed," cried little Alexander.
"How silly you are!" responded the older Jane. "Why should he be killed?"
"Because Napoleon is such a monster. If he should suddenly take out his sword--"
"Yes, or open his mouth and swallow papa, how terrible it would be!" added Betsy mockingly.
"Of course Bonaparte is a monster, but he would never dare hurt any one on this island, especially an Englishman. Don't worry. Papa will come home safely enough, but I wish he would hurry, so we could hear all about the wretch."
Later in the day the children gathered eagerly around their father, who had returned from his visit to the ships.
"Oh, papa, what was he like?" asked each in turn.
"Who, Napoleon?"
"Of course. We wish to hear about him. Didn't you see him? Didn't you see anybody there?"
"I could hardly visit a fleet without seeing some one."
"Is it a large fleet?"
"Yes, it would be called large in any part of the world."
"How large is it?"
"But did you see Napoleon?" asked one of the children, returning to the subject of greatest interest.
"I did not see General Bonaparte," replied the father, pausing to see the effect of his words on the children. Then, as he noted their expression of disappointment, he quickly added: "But I saw some of the others,--some of his suite."
"Oh, tell us about it!"
"There is little to tell. After paying my respects to Sir George Cockburn, I was introduced to Madame Bertrand and Madame Montholon, and then to the rest of Napoleon's suite."
"What were they like?" asked one of the girls eagerly, as if she expected her father to describe a group of strange beings.
"Like any travellers, my child, who had had a long voyage, from the effects of which they were anxious to rest."
"Oh, I wish you had seen Napoleon!"
"I am likely to see him soon, and you may, also, as he is to land to-night."
At this news the children were silent. To have Napoleon on the island was not a pleasant prospect. They were not so sure now that they cared to see him.
"But where will he live, papa, when he comes ashore?" ventured Jane at last. "Will they put him in a dungeon?"
"Certainly not, my child. He is to live at Longwood, but as the house needs to be put in repair, he will stay for a while with Mr. Porteous."
"When will he come ashore?" asked Betsy timidly. Now that her father had spoken so reassuringly of Napoleon, she was curious to see him, at least from a safe distance.
"He will land to-night,--after dark, I imagine, to escape the gaze of the crowd;" and their father, turning from the children, went toward the house.
As he left them, the young people began an animated discussion of Napoleon. They were already getting used to the idea that he was to live on St. Helena and that he was an ordinary human being, not unlike the British officials of high rank sent out by the Crown.
"As he cannot possibly hurt us, why shouldn't we go to the valley to see him land?" asked Betsy.
"Why shouldn't we?" echoed Jane. So it happened, when they had asked their parents, that the older children were permitted to go to Jamestown to see Napoleon land. When they reached the wharf it was dusk and crowds of people were gathered on every side.
"I did not know there were so many people on the island," whispered Betsy, as she pressed closer to her sister. "Do you suppose he will be in the first boat?"
"I don't know. But see, it is coming!"
"Yes, little ladies," said a bystander, "Bonaparte will surely be in the first boat."
"Here it is, here it is," cried Betsy. "Look, Jane, look!"
Even as she spoke, the passengers from the longboat were coming ashore, and although it was seven o'clock in the evening, there was still enough light to enable the watchers to see the figures of those who were landing.
The girls strained their eyes. Three men marched slowly up from the ship's boat. "See," cried Betsy, "probably Napoleon is in the middle."
"That little man, and in an overcoat!"
"Yes, for there is something flashing, probably a diamond."
"A man with a diamond! How foolish!" objected Jane.
"But it is, indeed it is!"
"I wish people wouldn't crowd so."
"They've got to move back. I'm glad of it. The sentries are standing with fixed bayonets to keep more people from rushing down from the town."
If Napoleon had landed earlier in the day, he would have been greeted by an even greater crowd, for people had been gathering on the Marina from the earliest hours; but disappointed that he was not to land until after sunset, most of them had gone home. Still, however, a large enough crowd had gathered to make it necessary for the sentries to use some force to keep them in order.
In spite of the crowd, the sisters felt that they had been rewarded for their trouble, for when they reached home they learned that the little man in the green coat was indeed the dreaded monster.
A DISTINGUISHED TENANT
The next morning Betsy rose early. The night before the family had sat up later than their custom, talking about the arrival of the ship and the distinguished prisoners.
"Are General Bertrand and Count Montholon prisoners too?" asked one of the girls.
"No, my dear; I understand that they are at liberty to leave St. Helena whenever they wish. Of course while they are here they must obey whatever rules are made for them, but they would not be here if they had not chosen to share the fate of Napoleon."
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