The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

868 belt of the man ahead of him, till finally we came out upon the upper slope of the headland. Still there was no volley from the walls! Breathless from our climb, ta- king advantage of every bit of cover, away we sped for the lowered draw- bridge and the open gate that yawned cavernously at us from behind it. Our charging line, supported by a second line of sharpshooters, stormed forward into the fterre-plein. The empty casemates stared at us, and it was fully five minutes before we real- ized that the fort was empty. The thought of loot was in every mind, and light itself is not quicker than was that crew of rascally gallants in scattering for plunder. Quick as they were, Morgan was still quicker. Whipping out a pistol from his belt, he sprang in front of the leading group that was making for the chapel, where plate would be found if at all, and or- dered them back into their ranks. There was instant demurral, and he knocked the leader flat’ with the butt of his pistol. “Back! Back!” he shouted. “ Do you think the Spaniards love us so greatly that they mean to give us the key point to the town and to the bay? Stay where you are, you fools! *Tis most likely that the place is but a trap! Two of you follow me. “ Hetherington, hold the rest of the men here in the open. Allow no man to eat food or drink wine that is found within the walls. *Tis most likely that they have poisoned all that they have left behind! Come with me.” And the great red-coated figure rushed for the magazine. I saw them halt near the door and I saw the two men who were with him leap back as Morgan threw his weight upon the door. , It broke under his rush and he plunged into the darkness and a mo- ment later emerged with a _ lighted quick-fire burning between his fingers, his eyes ablaze with anger but his whole figure shaking with a fearful laughter. THE ARGOSY. “As I thought!” he roared. “ The place is mined! Now, Hetherington come here! ” : “The man is absolutely devoid of fear,” said Oakes, who had been one of the two men who accompanied him. “The mine had been laid and the charge set and the match that you saw him hold was already lighted and the spark was within three inches of an open powder barrel! A _ half-minute more and the whole mass would have exploded. He picked up the match with his naked fingers as you saw! What devilment are they at now, I wonder? ”’ “Ten men to go aboard each ship and bring them around the point,” roared Morgan. “ Pedro—” The Spaniard came forward. “What guns are mounted in the fort yonder?” He pointed at the frowning mass of the fortification across the narrow channel. “There were ten long twenty-fours mounted there two years ago, as well as five thirty-two-pounder carronades. They were there when L’Ollonois took the place—” Morgan swore. Across the strait we could see the men running to quarters, and if ever those long guns were brought to bear upon our ships there could be but one result, for the angle was such that with the ill-constructed ports of those days, not a gun of our broadside could pitch its mouthful of iron into the fort. “Get your men aboard, Mr. Oakes, and set the carpenter to work and rig a staging outboard clear along your sheer-strake on your larboard side. Do you understand, sir? Rig it clear from stem to stern on each of the ships and do it at once! Hasten!” We hurried down the paths to the landing, and as we left [ heard the word passed: “ The town now! For- ward to the town!” and glad I was that I had been assigned to the duty on board the ship. I know what the next six hours COMIC OOOKS (S@)