“You alone were silent, Captain Bruton,” said the General, sternly. “Have you nothing to say?”
“Yes,” said my father, who turned very white; and he took a step forward. “Sir,” he said to the Spanish officer, “is the governor of your settlement aware that we are no trespassers here, but that we came under the authority of his Majesty King George?”
“I believe all that has been discussed, sir,” said the officer, coldly. “Again I ask, how soon will you evacuate this place?”
“You are hasty, sir,” said my father; and a murmur arose in the room. “Gentlemen,” he continued, turning towards his brother officers and members of the expedition, “bear with me for a few moments.”
There was another murmur and then silence, with every eye fixed angrily upon my father’s face, as he turned once more to the Spanish officers.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “all of us who are here consider that we are acting within our rights in taking and holding this land, which you see we have turned from a wilderness into a smiling home. The question of right seems to be in dispute. Cannot it be peacefully settled, for the sake of all? I think we can convince your governor that we are only acting within our rights.”
The Spanish officer who was evidently the leader said a few words angrily to the interpreter, who nodded shortly.
“Your answer?” he said, haughtily.
“That we demand a peaceable solution of this difficulty, and that there be no bloodshed.”
“When will you go?” cried the young Spaniard aggressively, and amidst a low angry murmur I saw my father’s face flush, as he took another step forward, and raising his sword with his left hand he clapped his right down upon the hilt.