of
solution. As a matter of fact, I pondered over this at such length that
my choice finally fell on one of the weakest of these organizations, a
company known as the Societe Mutuelle. The headquarters of the Societe
Mutuelle were at No. 24 Rue Pigale, Paris. Each member joining was
required to contribute 1,000 francs for food and passage. We were to
work together and share equally in all profits. Furthermore, if one
member or partner (which was the same thing) brought along any goods to
sell, the company took charge of the sale of his wares and guaranteed
him one-third of the profits. In return for the 1,000 francs deposited
by each member the company was to supply, upon our arrival, lodgings in
wooden houses that were carried out with us on our vessel. Connected
with the enterprise were a doctor and a harmacist; but each member had
to provide himself at his own expense with a double-barreled gun, using
bullets of a certain size and equipped with bayonet. The pistols could
be of whatever type or size suited the individual purchaser. Being a
hunter I attached considerable importance to this part of my equipment
which, as will be soon apparent, was indeed fortunate. Upon our arrival
we were to work under leaders whom we selected from our members. Every
three months these leaders, who were to work with us and as one of us,
were to be changed to avoid dissatisfaction.
Final
arrangements were made at Paris, but we were all to congregate at
Nantes. At Nantes a ship of some 400 tons was to be purchased through a
local banker with whom, according to the company, arrangements had
been made in advance. This vessel, moreover, was to take on a cargo—in
which we were to share profits—for which the banker was defraying the
cost, merely reserving for himself a reasonable percentage of the
proceeds. All equipment was being acquired for the Society whose
capital was to be reimbursed plus 5 per cent interest. This, obviously,
was an extraordinary opportunity—at least on paper.
On
May 21, 1849, I departed for Nantes, where I stopped at the Hotel du
Commerce. This trip was made with two comrades who had joined this same
Society and who were departing at the same time. These two friends were
Mr. Mirandole and Mr. Gauthier. Furthermore, another old friend and
neighbour from my home town, Tillier of Groslay, had already left ahead
of me. We had been companions from early childhood, and his departure
had strongly influenced my decision. Tillier had joined the Socete
Nationale.
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