the oath of
allegiance to France;--the oath which it had never been his desire to
break. He smiled when he heard this simple act proclaimed by another
roar of artillery, such as might have greeted a victory. Leclerc
frowned; for it was not followed, as he had hoped, by acclamations. The
echoes died away into deep silence.

It was an awkward moment. Leclerc hoped that Toussaint would lead the
conversation. But Toussaint was deep in thought. Gazing on the anxious
and sickly face of the Captain-General, he was grieving at heart that
he, and so many thousands more who might have lived long and useful
lives at home, should be laid low, in the course of a bad enterprise
against the liberties of the natives. The mournful gaze of his mild
eyes confused the Captain-General, so that he said the first thing that
occurred, in order to break the silence. He observed that he understood
there was some business yet standing over for settlement between the
parties who had so happily met at last. He had no doubt that General
Toussaint would see clearly that in his allegiance to France was
involved the duty of accounting to the government for the wealth of the
island, whether open to estimate or concealed in the mornes, or
elsewhere.

"I have heard something of this before," said Toussaint, "and are as
ignorant as yourself of any buried treasure. In this island, Nature is
so perpetually bountiful, that we have not the temptation which we are
told exists elsewhere, to amass wealth against a time of dearth. I have
no treasure."

"If so, how could you have proposed to remain out of the bounds of the
law, as you did till lately? Nature is not bountiful on the
mountain-peaks, which must then have been your abode. At least, Nature
does not there bring forth arms and ammunition. Without treasure, with
which to purchase supplies, how would you have obtained arms and
ammunition?"

"I should have taken yours."

Leclerc saw that even his own followers were more disposed to applaud
than resent these words; and he, therefore, changed the topic.

"It is fortunate, then, for all parties," said he, "that future
struggles are avoided. We are friends. Let it go abroad through the
whole island that we are friends."

Toussaint made no reply. Leclerc continued--

"You, General, and your troops, will be employed and treated like the
rest of my army. With regard to yourself, you desire repose."--Looking
round, he repeated the words