re not in
the service of the United States, nor likely to be. Come--man--give us
a reply at once."

Captain Lafitte was obdurate, for--strange as it may seem--he wished
to inform the officers of the State Government of this project of the
English. So he withdrew to his own hut.

As he did this, the pirates seized the British officers, dragged them
to a cabin, and thrust them inside. A guard was stationed at the door,
while cries went up from every quarter:

"To New Orleans with the scoundrels! A yard-arm for the butchers! A
rope's end for the scurvy tars!"

Lafitte was furious when he learned of this, and, after haranguing the
crowd, had the Britishers released.

"If you treat men under a flag of truce as prisoners," he cried, "you
break one of the first rules of warfare. You will get the same
treatment if you, yourselves, are captured, and you will lose the
opportunity of discovering what are the projects of the British upon
Louisiana."

His men saw the good sense of these words of advice, and acted
accordingly.

Early the next morning the officers were escorted to their pinnace
with many apologies from Lafitte, who now wrote a letter to Captain
Lockyer, which shows him to have been a man of considerable
cultivation, and not a mere "rough and tumble" pirate--without
education or refinement. He said:

"BARRATARIA, 4th Sept., 1814.

"TO CAPTAIN LOCKYER,

"SIR:--The confusion which prevailed in our camp
yesterday and this morning, and of which you have a
complete knowledge, has prevented me from answering in a
precise manner to the object of your mission; nor even
at this moment can I give you all the satisfaction that
you desire. However, if you could grant me a fortnight,
I would be entirely at your disposal at the end of that
time.

"This delay is indispensable to enable me to put my
affairs in order. You may communicate with me by sending
a boat to the Eastern point of the pass, where I will be
found. You have inspired me with more confidence than
the Admiral--your superior officer--could have done,
himself. With you alone I wish to deal, and from you,
also, I will claim in due time, the reward of the
services which I may render you.

"Your very respectful servant,

"J. LAFITTE."

His object in writing this letter--you see--was, by appearing to
accede to the proposals, to give t