To Jimmy he held out his hand. “You are always goodness itself,” he said. “You will come to me to-morrow at the Cabildo?”
“Thank you,” murmured Jimmy. But he had no idea of doing so. He and the volunteer company would have their hands full in the Place d’Armes, preserving order.
Next morning the American troops approached in order of battle, to be received by the Spanish troops at the city gates. They were escorted to the Cabildo, where the keys of the city were handed to Claiborne, and the people were absolved by Laussat from allegiance to the French Consul. Commissioner Claiborne then welcomed them as citizens of the United States. The commissioners then passed out into one of the balconies and looked down on the cheering crowds that gazed up at them from the Place d’Armes. No other fanatic attempted to kill the representative of the new government, but Jimmy, among his volunteers, watched anxiously, as if the safety of the young man in the gallery depended upon him alone.
IN ITS PLACE ROSE THE STARS AND STRIPES
Slowly the tricolor of France was lowered, and the Stars and Stripes raised until they met midway of the flagstaff and were saluted. Then the flag of the United States rose, to the accompaniment of a great cheer from thousands of boatmen and soldiers, and New Orleans was an American city for all future time.
With the transfer came the hoped-for improvement. Within three weeks Captain Royce was able to dispose of nearly everything at fair rates, even to the old ark itself, in which they had come so far. Its sound oak planks went to repair the gun platforms and casemates at Fort St. Charles. And for little more than he received for these, Marion Royce had an opportunity to purchase a small “keel” boat of fifteen-tons burden for the homeward voyage.
A difficulty now rose, however. The horse-gear for the paddle-wheels, which they had brought for the return trip up the river, was too heavy for the keel. It required six horses, walking round on a kind of gallery, to operate the transverse shaft to which the paddle-wheels were attached. The keel was too narrow for a six-horse “circuit.”
Horse-boats were not uncommon on the Mississippi in those days; but most, if not all, of these devices consisted of a large horizontal wheel, round which the horses walked, as sailors walk round a capstan, the horizontal wheel being connected by cog-gear to the shaft beneath, which carried the two paddle-wheels.
Marion Royce now set his wits at work to devise something lighter and less cumbrous, adapted to his small keel. His two good friends, Doctor Lecassigne and Doctor Buchat, were much interested, and spent several days studying the problem with him.