d his arms
towards the black lines of the enemy, shouting to them--

"My soldiers, will you kill your general? Will you kill your father,
your comrades, your brothers?"

In an instant every black was on his knees. It was a critical moment
for the French. They rushed on, drowning the single voice on which
their destruction seemed to hang, threw the kneeling soldiers on their
faces, strode over their prostrate bodies, and nearly effected their
object of closing round L'Ouverture, and capturing him. His danger was
imminent. The struggle was desperate;--but his soldiers saved him. The
battle was fierce and long, but again and again turning in his favour,
till all seemed secure. He was forcing the enemy from their lines, and
giving out the inspiring negro cry of victory, when a new force marched
up against him, stopped the retreat of the French, and finally repulsed
the blacks--exhausted as they were, and unable to cope with a fresh foe.
In the most critical moment, four thousand troops, fresh from the ships
had arrived to convert the defeat of the French into a victory; and they
brought into the battle more than their own strength in the news that
reinforcements from France were pouring in upon every point of the
coast.

The news reached L'Ouverture, and completed the discouragement of his
little army. It decided him at once in what direction to retreat. It
was useless to return to the Plateaux, as the force there was more than
proportioned to the supply of ammunition. This fresh descent of the
French upon the coast would have the effect of dispersing the small
bodies of black troops in the north. A rendezvous was necessary, in
order to make the most both of the men and stores. He proceeded to post
his troops at Le Dondon, and Marmalade, sending orders to Christophe to
meet him there. There they might possibly be usefully employed in
cutting off access to the French army at Plaisance, and at the same time
supplying their own wants, while deliberating on what plan to carry on
the struggle, under the new circumstances, till August; for, whatever
treachery and defection might have to be encountered elsewhere, there
was never a moment's doubt that Nature would prove a faithful ally, when
her appointed season came.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

CONFLICTING.

"What to do!" said L'Ouverture to Christophe, as they entered his
apartment at Le Dondon. "What to do? Everything, this year and for the
future, may dep