Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-29
CHAPTER XI.

NE FIGHT On MOUNT EINA.
When Point Pescade had told his story
clasp from the Doctors hand thanked
him for what he had done. The next
question was how to foil the brigands. To
leave the Casa degli Inglesi and retreat in
the middle Of t1c night down the tanks
OF the volcano with ZirOue and his people
knowing every footpath and every refuge
was to expose themselves to complete de-
struction. To wait for daylight to en-
trench themselves and defend themselves
in the house would be far more advan-
/ tageous plan. When the dav came, If
they had to retreat. they could at least do
so in broad daylight, and would not
60 out like blind men down the preci-
pices and sOlatras. The decision was
therefore 10 remain and fight. The prepa-
ratiOns Tor the defense Immediately COM
menced.
And first the two windows Of the Casa
deg.i lnglesi had 10 be closed and their
shutters firmly fastened down. As en-
brasures there were the openings between
where the rafters OF the roof rested on the
front wall. Each man was provided
with a quick-fring rife and twenty cart
ridges. The doctor, Pierre and Luigi
could assist with their revolvers. but
Cape Matifou had only his arms and Point
I Pescade had only his hands. Perhaps
they We're not the worst armed.
Nearly forty minutes passed and no at
tempt at attack was made. Zirone know
ing that DR.. Antekirtt had been warned
/ by Point Pescade and could not be sur
prised, had possibly abandoned his idea.
With fifty men under his command and
all the advantages that a thorough
/ knowledge Of the ground could give
him, he had certainly all the chances on
his side.
Suddenly, about II O'Clock, the sentry
reported a number OF men approaching in
/ skirmishing order so as to attack the hut
! on three sides--the fourth way, for its
/ backing on to the slope, afforded no posi-
1 bic retreat. The manWuyre having been
! discovered, the door was shut and barri-
/ caded, and the men took their posts near
4 the rafters with orders not to fire unless
! they were sure Of their object.
/ ZirOne and his men advanced slowly
! and cautiously, taking advantage of the
cover Of the rocks 10 reach the crest OF the
! Piarro del Lago. On this crest there
were heaped up enorm GUS masses OF ira
chyte and basalt, intended probably to
protect the Casa delgi Inglesi from being
destroyed by the snow during the winter
Having reached this plateau the assail.
ants could more easily charge up to
the house, break through the door or
windows, and with the aid OF their su.
perior number carry off the doctor and
his people.
Suddenly there was report. light
smoke drifted in between the rafters. A
man fell mortality wounded. The bandits
at once rushed back and disappeared he.
hind the rocks. But gradually, profiting
by the uneyenness Of The ground, Zirone
brought his men TO the foot Of the Piarro
del LagO; but he did not do SO until a
dozen shots had been fired from the caves
OF the Casa degli Inglesi-and two more
of his associates were stretched dead on
the snow.
Zirone then gave the word to storm, ard
at the cost OF several more wounded the
whole band rushed ON the Casa degli In
Rlesi. the doOr was riddied with bullets,
and two sailors were wounded, but not
seriously, and had 20 stand aside while
/ the struggle grew nrisker. With their
pixies and hatchets the assailants attempt.
ed TO break In the door and one OF the
windows, and a sortie had TO be underta-
ken TO repel them under an incessant ia.
SHADE from ali s.les. Luigi had his hand
| pierced by bullet, and Pierre, without
the assistance Of Cape Matifou, would
have been killed by pike-thrust, had nor
! Hercules seized the pike and settled its
| pOsHessOr az one blow.
During this sortie Cape Matifou was
| quite a terror. Twenty times was ne
shot at, and not a bullet reached nm. II
ZirOne won. Point pescade was dead
man, and the thought Of this redoubled
his anger. Against such resistance the
assailants had again 20 retreat; and the
doctor and his friends returned into thu.
| Casa and reviewed their position. ana
What ammunition have you leftT'
asked he.
Ten or dozen cartridges per man."
said Luigi.
"Aud what O'Clock is itg,
"Hardly midnight"
-Four hours still To daybreak! The men
! must be more careful with the ammunj-
ton, for some of II would be wanted no
| protect the retreat at the earliest streak
| OF dawn.
But how could they defend the ap.
proaches, or prevent the capture OF the
Casa degli lnglesi, II Zirone and his band
again tried 40 ASSAULT And that Is
what he aid in a quarter Of an hours
time, after taking all the wounded 10 the
rear under shelter Of a line OF lava that
| did duty for an entrenchment. When
they had done this, the bandits, enraged
Z ut the resistance. and drunk with fury al
tine sight of i've or six Of their injured
comrades, mounted the ridge and appear
J ca 0n the crest OF the plateau.
Not "a shot wus fred as they crossed the
open, ana hence IirOne concluded that
the bosieged were running short Of ammu.
milton. The idea OF carryingon "a million.
aire was just she thing 10 excite the Gu.
pdity pi the scOundrels that followed
him. such was their fury during thts ~.
tack that they forced the door and the
window, and would have taken the house
by assault, had not a volloy point blank
killed i've or six Of them. They had
therefore u return TO the foot OF the pla.