The volunteer, a poor freeman in tattered clothes, stood waiting as well, his new pistol, the bait that had lured him to the fort’s defense, thrust in his belt. The governor’s earlier recruiting efforts, his appeal to the islanders’ patriotism, and even more so his promise of a free pistol, had yielded good results; when John Brown had left for Fort Montegu, over two hundred men had been mustered to defend their island. It appeared, however, that their enthusiasm was not long-lived, and now a majority of those who had reported for duty were going home again. Brown spotted James Gould, Speaker of the Assembly, walking near the end of the line. ‘Gould, Gould, what the devil is going on?’ ‘What is going on? We are leaving, sir. We’ll not stand by that fool a moment longer. Have you seen this?’ Gould held in his clenched fist a copy of the manifesto Hopkins had sent for dissemination. ‘If that’s the broadside from the rebel commodore, then, yes, we’ve seen it. Said he’d do no harm if we give him what he wants.’ ‘That’s right.
