The Hour and the Man, An Historical Romance

If the devastation attending the revolutionary wars of Saint Domingo was great, it was repaired with singular rapidity. Thanks to the vigorous agencies of nature in a tropical r...

Euphrosyne's life in the convent was dull and weary. It would probably have been so anywhere, for some time after the old man's death: but elsewhere there would have been more t...

Day after day passed on, and the prisoner found no change in his condition--as far, at least, as it depended on his gaolers. He was more ill as he became enveloped in the damps...

One radiant day of the succeeding spring, a party was seen in the plain of Cul-de-Sac, moving with such a train as showed that one of the principal families of the island was tr...

The party of deputies with whom Monsieur Bayou was dining were assembled at the great hotel, at the corner of Place Mont Archer, at Cap Francais. Languidly, though gladly, did t...

The lads found some of the details of military training less heroic and less agreeable than they had imagined--scarcely to be compared, indeed, under either aspect, to the chase...

Pongaudin was indeed no longer safe. Immediately on the return of Coasson to the fleet, under the date of the 17th of February, the Captain-General issued a proclamation of outl...

It was a glorious day, that twelfth of June, when the _Heros_ sailed away from the shores of Saint Domingo. Before the _Heros_ could sail quite away, it was compelled to hover,...

Margot doubted much, at the end of the first week, and at the end of every following week, whether she liked freedom. Margot had had few cares during the many years that she had...

For some weeks after the appearance of the fleet upon the coast, nothing took place which could be called war. Toussaint was resolved not to be the aggressor. Prepared at all po...

Monsieur Papalier did not much relish the idea of roosting in a tree for the night; especially as, on coming down in the morning, there would be no friend or helper near, to car...

As it might be supposed, Monsieur Revel and his grandchild had no desire to remain in Government-house a moment longer than was necessary, as Afra was obliged to leave it. Afra'...

"We hear," said Monsieur Pascal, "that the First Consul understands men. He may understand some men--the soldiery of France, perhaps--but of others he knows no more than if he w...

Papalier was probably the only person in the valley who did not attend mass on this saint's-day morning. The Spanish general was early seen, surrounded by his staff, moving towa...

Precious to the statesman are the moments he can snatch for the common pleasures which are strewed over the earth--meant, apparently, for the perpetual enjoyment of all its inha...

Before the sun had touched the roofs of the town of Cap--while the streets lay cool and grey under the heights, which glowed in the flames of sunrise--most of the inhabitants we...

The Commander-in-chief was not long closeted with Governor Raymond: for this was a day when minutes were precious. It was observed that there was a sudden activity among the mes...

Nature wrought with the blacks this season for the fulfilment of their hopes, and the defence of their precarious liberties. Never, within the remembrance of the young people at...

"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 depend on what we decide on...

This new violence had for its object the few whites who were rash and weak enough to insist on the terms of Hedouville's intended proclamation, instead of abiding by that of L'O...

That night. Madame Dessalines was alone in a dimly-lighted apartment of Government-house--dimly-lighted except by the moon, shining in full at the range of windows which overloo...

Madame Oge's news was too true. Monsieur Pascal had held many an anxious conversation with L'Ouverture on the subject, before Afra showed him her little friend's letter. In a sh...

A council was held one morning, soon after the events just related, whose aspect would have perplexed an old colonist, if he could have looked forward in vision to that day. In...

The nights of August are in Saint Domingo the hottest of the year. The winds then cease to befriend the panting inhabitants; and while the thermometer stands at 90 degrees, ther...

Autumn faded, and the long winter of the Jura came on, without bringing changes of any importance to the prisoners--unless it were that, in addition to the wood-fire, which scar...

When Toussaint set foot on the deck of the _Heros_, on the evening of the next day, the commander stood ready to receive him--and not only the commander. Soldiers also stood rea...

Pongaudin was no longer safe, as head-quarters for the Commander-in-chief, his family, and guests. The defeats which had been sustained were bad enough; but the defection was wo...

The town of Cap Francais was next morning in a hurry, which attracted the attention of General Laveaux in his prison, and the French commissary, Polverel, on board the vessel in...

The report brought by Toussaint was astounding to his hearers, even after the preparation afforded by the events of the evening. It was clear that the negroes had everything in...

"Nothing has happened, grandpapa. The only thing is, that I like to do what you wish; and I always will, as long as you live. I will go to the convent to-day. You can send for m...

Day by day, in the internals of his occupation about the defence of the colony, did Toussaint repair to Cap Samana, to look eastwards over the sea. Day by day was he more sure,...

The French proclamation was efficiently published along the line of march of the blacks. They shouted and sang the tidings of their freedom, joining with them the name of Toussa...

Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the Commissary on seeing Toussaint this morning. Hedouville was amusing himself, before the sun was high, alternately with three or four...

General Brunet brought with him no more than his allotted twenty soldiers, and a secretary. Christophe ascertained to his own satisfaction, and let the household know, that not...

In time of peace, and if her children had perished by any other mode, it might have been a consolation to Deesha to dwell for a time beside their graves. As it was, the deep bar...

Therese was struck with awe as she stood, from time to time, beside the bed on which lay Genifrede. The room was so darkened that nothing was to be seen; but there she lay, brea...

Leclerc was eager to receive proposals of peace,--to owe a respite to dissimulation itself, rather than continue the war, under his present difficulties. It was weary work, keep...

"Stand where you are, Therese; there, at the foot of the bed! Stir not an inch without my leave? I have let you have your own way too much of late. I call for hours, and you nev...

Though the peace of the town was now considered secure, there was little less bustle throughout the day and night than there had been in the morning. The cultivators were all go...

Poor Euphrosyne! She was not allowed by her grandfather to go to church this day. Monsieur Revel insisted upon it that it would be an act of treason for one of the French race t...

Of the letters written by Toussaint and Pascal on the evening when news arrived of the imposition of compulsory labour on the negroes, some reached their destination; but one di...

As soon as Toussaint was out of hearing of his family and suite, he put his horse to its utmost speed. There was not a moment to be lost, if the peace of the island was to be pr...