Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-24
PART FIFTH.
CHAPTER vi.

THE BATTLE.
After the hrst reconnaissance the lights
we're extinguished. The only thing TO do
was TO wait for day.
However, by tue doctors orders, the
militia were mustered and sent to their
stations.
1t was necessary to be in position TO
strike the first blow, on which per-
haps the issue Of the enterprise would
depend.
1t was now certain that the assailants
could no longer hope 20 take the island by
surprise. inasmuch as the projection of the
light had allowed OK Intercourse and NUM-
Oers being known.
A most careful watch was kept during
the last hours OF the night. Many times
was the horizon again illuminated, 90 as
20 permit OF the exact position Of the
fotila being noted. That the assailants
We're numerous there could be no doubt
That they were sufficiently armed TO have
a chance against tine Anteklrtt2 batteries
WAS doubtful. Thee were probably with
out artillery. But the number Of men
that the chief could land at once
would make the oenOu5ists really formid-
able.
Dav at last began to break, and the first
RAYS of the sun dissipated the Inists on the
horizon. Every eye was turned seward
towards the east and south OF Anteklrttd.
The flotilla was advancing IN long cur
Nel Inc mere were UNtl ANf0 uuuul ca
vessels, some Of them of thirty or forty
tons. Altogether they could carry from
1900 to 1000 men.
At O'Clock the fotilla was off Kencraf.
Would the enemy stop there and take up
fkeir position before attacking the island?
If they did so, IL would indeed be tOrtu-
nate. The mines laid by the doctor would
seriously damage their attack, II they did
not entirely settle it,
An anxious halt hour elapsed. 1t SEEM
ed as though the vessels, as they reached
The islet, were about TO land-but they
did nothing OF the sort. Not one stopped.
The line curved farther off to the south,
leaving it TO the right. and it became ev-
ident that Antekirtta would be di-
rectly attacked, or rather invaded, in an
hour.
The only thing now is to defend our
selves" said the doctor TO the chief OF the
militia.
The signal was given, and those on the
island FASTENED into the town to take the
posts that had been assigned them before
hand. By the doctor orders Pierre Bath
oFy took command Of the fOrtlhCatlons to
the south, Luigi Of those to the east. The
defenders-500 at the mOst-were posted
so that they could face the enemy Wher-
ever he ATTEMPTED TO force the walls. The
doctor held himself ready TO 90 where his
presence might be necessary. Madame
Bathory, Sara SandOri, Maria FerratO re-
manned in the hail Of the Stadthaus. The
Dther women, should the town be car
Fied, were ordered to take shelter with
their children in the classmates where
hey would have nothing TO fear even if
the assallants possessed few landing
guns.
The question OF Kencraf being settled
unfortunately TO the doctors disadvan-
lage-there remained the question OF the
narbor. II the foilla attempted to force
nm entry, the forts on the two jetties, with
t1elr CrOss-hres, the guns OF the EerratO,
tne t0rpedoes Of the Elecuics, and the tor
pedOgs sunk in the channel would have
something to say in the matter. IL would,
in snort, be fortunate if the attack were
made on that side.
BuJ--as was only too evident-the chief
OF the Senousists was perfectly acquaint-
I'd with Antekirtta's means or defense. To
attempt direct attack on the harbor
would nave been to run to complete and
immediate humiliation. a landing in
the southern part Of the island, where the
operation would be an easy one, was the
plan he adopted. And 80 having passed
by the harDOr. as he had passed bv Ken
Graf. he took bis flOtilla, still rowing, to-
wards the weak point Of Antskirtta.
As soon as he saw this, the doctor took
such measures as circumstances demand
ed. CRpts. kostrik and Narsos each took
command OF a torpedo boat, and slipped
out of h0rbOr.
A quarter u an hour afterwards the
two Electrics had rushed into the midst
Of tie fiOtlla. broken the line, sank i've
or six OF the vessels, and stove in more
than a dozen others. But the numbers OF
the enemy was 50 great that, 10 avoid be-
ing boarded, the Electrics had TO retreat
30 the shelter Of the jetties.
But the Ferrato had now come into DO
Eition and begun firing on the lotllla. Her
guns aud those OF the batteries that could
be brought 10 bear were, however. insult
hcient 70 prevent the pirates landing. Al
though great number had persisted al.
though twenty OF their vessels had been
sunk, more than thousand scrambled
on to the rocks in the south, 10 which
the calm sea rendered the approach so
Easy.
1t was then found that the senousists
were not without artillery. The larry.
est or the Xebecs had several field-pieces
on wheeled carriages, and these were
landed on the shore. which was out OF
range OF the guns either Of the town or the
Bentral cone.
The doctor from his position on the
nearest salient, bad seen all this, and
with his much fewer men could not At
tempt to stop 10. But as they were shel.
cred By the walls, the ass8ilants, numcr.
bus as they were, would ind their task
difficult one.
The senousists, dragging their light
guns with them, formed up into TWO COLI
umns, and came marching along with all
lhe careless bravery of the Arab and The
audacity OF the fanatics, who glory iu
their contempt OF death, their hope Of pile
lage, and their hate Of the European.
When they were well within range The
batteries opened on them. More than "a
hundred fplI. but Tie others htlll Kept uu.
THOR hoid-plpcts were brought into posi-
tion. aud they began 10 breach the wall boz
fbc angle oi iho unfinished curtain to-
wards TIE south.
uleir chief. calm amid those who were
falling at bis eide. directed The operation.
harcany, close Dy, was exciting him %
deliver the assault and hurl several nun.
rred men at thc falling wall.
From The distance, DR.. Antokirit and
llame had recognized him, aud he had
ecgHnlzca them.