F -~jFi iaE


208 T Ha L oB Of

of concluding a peace; adding that, at the expres 
the Captain-General, he wished to converse with
the subject.
 On his part, Toussaint complained that Christop
tened to overtures from the enemy, contrary to mili
line, since he had no authority from his superior
fore leaving, Christophe put into the hands of Tousaiat.
from Leclerc. Prevented, at the moment, faom
communication, Toussaint did not learn till after C
departure, that he had gone over to the French. Th:,
which he felt gave place to astonishment, and ato
was succeeded by indignation. He sent. for Adjutant-Q
Fontaine, the chief of his statf and to him alone commuj
the contents of the letter, directing him to go to Chr"
and command him to repair to the headquarters at, Mvut
in order to explain his conduct. The traitor alfected- q
ance. Many of his offers, on hearing of the mission
eral Fontaine, declared that the hbad been misled. Q
return, that officer reported the surrender of Port-Franqi.
other places. Tou-naint L'Ouserture aA~embled his chig
cers, and announced ti them the extraordinary event. q
tophe's conduct appeared to them no le-s iucomprehensibIg
blameworthy. The new.4 having .prrad among the peop%
the soldiers, they burst Ibrth in reproa'lces against him, am
a spontaneous movement asembled around Toussaint's due
to assure him of th,:ir fidelity and devotedness.
 In this conjuncture, the hope of an approaching peace, M
for a moment even Toussaint had indulged, vanished wh
The warlike spirit became universal, together with indipq
at the treachery. All swore to die for their chief, becaus i
doing they would die for liberty. Toussaint'. orders flew.i
sides in order to prevent or abate the consequences of the
fidy. He still had, in the West and in the North, faithfidl
talions and devoted districts. The le.s his resources beq
the more grand did his character appear. Had Ibrtuan%
abandoned him ? Could he no longer look to the higheagi