Читать книгу Piau - Bruce Monk Murray - Страница 10

As I grew older, I became fascinated by my brother Charles’s obsession with the sea and with shipbuilding. From the earliest days of our misfortune aboard the captured British ship we called home in 1707 and 1708, he had relished the science of ship construction. He was able to design and construct vessels of all kinds: simple fishing boats, small sailing vessels, and even large ships. He became a master mast-maker and his skills were often used when British ships sailed up the river from the sea, looking for a repair of their sails and hulls. As he approached adulthood, he insisted on being well paid for his efforts. He would later become famous for these marine skills that had been nurtured out of his own adversity. They would in time serve him well in a formidable act of revenge against those he considered to be our father’s murderers.

I never had a deep understanding of building a boat, but I often became a second pair of hands when Charles was in need of them. I marvelled as he crafted the spine of the vessel from sturdy lengths of oak using the tools he had collected over the years from Uncle Pierre and from the British at the garrison. These often engaged him for repairs and to create new masts from the massive white pines we felled. Benjamin became the assistant’s assistant during the summers at Port Royal, and we mixed this work with occasional fishing along the river. While Benjamin and I enjoyed the fish we caught, the news and gossip that I was able to pick up during my time working with Charles by the harbour would prove to be of greater value.

One day in early September of 1726 news arrived that a new lieutenant-governor was arriving at Port Royal. The word quickly spread throughout the Acadian communities and beyond. The Acadians knew Lawrence Armstrong from previous visits, and he was as unpopular among them as he was among the soldiers and officers at the fort. Armstrong had never endeared himself to Governor Philipps, who spent most of his time away from Acadia; in fact, Philipps complained to the Board of Trade at Westminster about Armstrong’s behaviour elsewhere in Acadia, forcing Armstrong to sail to London to defend himself more than once. Now that Armstrong had become acting lieutenant-governor, a position he was to hold for the next fourteen years, he turned his attention to the matter of the oath of allegiance. Refusal to swear the oath had been a long-standing problem in Acadia, but a compromise had always been reached. It was soon evident that he had chosen to take a hard line with those he considered obstinate.

Not long after Armstrong took up residence at Annapolis, he began visiting the various communities in the district to survey the farms, livestock, community activities, and, much to my brother Charles’s consternation, the local shipyard. To say that the lieutenant-governor’s perusal of Charles’s work on a newly constructed chaloupe was an intrusion was to understate the anxiety we all felt by his sudden presence.

As the lieutenant-governor looked on, we continued with our task silently. It was he who broke the silence.

“Your reputation as a shipbuilder has reached as far as England, Monsieur Belliveau. I have some commissions I wish to discuss with you.”

Charles purposefully gave Armstrong a blank stare, pretending not to understand what the lieutenant-governor was saying. We all were aware of the antipathy that lingered beneath the surface of that blank stare. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. I was the one who decided to respond to the lieutenant-governor, being the most fluent in English of all the Acadians present.

“I speak on behalf of my brother, Excellency, that at a convenient time for him you may discuss the time, compensation, and design of any projects to be completed in future.”

Taken aback by my forthrightness, the lieutenant-governor responded quickly and authoritatively: “Young man, I sense a certain impertinence in your tone. You will in future speak to your lieutenant-governor in a respectful manner. Furthermore, any discussion of commissions will be at my convenience, not yours.”

Sensing that I had overstepped, I softened my response. “I meant no disrespect, Excellency. The abrupt tone of my English is explained by my lack of a true understanding of the language. My mother tongue is French.”

Armstrong stood motionless, not knowing whether this young man of twenty was being sincere in his response or taking advantage of him.

“We will talk!” Armstrong turned about-face and strutted away. Major Cosby, who attended the lieutenant-governor, followed him for several yards and then glanced back, giving us a knowing smile and an informal salute.

Feeling we had achieved a minor victory over an oppressor, we quietly resumed our work.