Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-08
CHAPTER XXyI-CoNrlNuEp.

But the IcIlato had now come into
position aud begun firing on the hotilla.
Her Cuns and those OF the batteries thai
could ba brought TO bear were however,
insufficient to prevent the pirates land
ing. Although a great number had
periSh'd, although twenty Of their
vessels had been sunk, moro than ono
thousand scrambled on to the rocks in
the south, to which the calm sea rem
dered the opproach 80 easy.
1t WAS then found that the Scnouists
were not without artillery. The largest
Of the zebecs had several tield-pieces on
wheeled carriages. and these were
landed on the shore. which was oIt of
range of the guns either Of the town OF
the central cone.
The Doctor, from his position on tho
nearest salient, had seen all thi', and
with his much fewer men could not
attempt to stop it, But o. they were
sheltered by the walls, the sssailauts,
numerou3 "a they were. would find tneir
task difficult one.
The Senousists, dragging their light
guns with them. formed up into two
columns, and caIno marching along with
all the careless bravery of tho Arab and
the audacity OF the fanatic, who glory
in their contempt of death, their hope
OF pillage and their hate of the European.
When they were within range the
batteries opened on them. More than
one hundred fell. bat tho others still
kept on. Their feld-pieces vera
brought into position, and they began
to breach the wall in tho angle of the
unfinished curtain towards the south.
Their chief, calm amid those who were
falling at his side, directed the opcrs,i ion.
Sarcany. close by. was exciting him TO
deliver the assault, and hurl several
hundred men at the falling wall.
From the distance, Doctor Antckirte
and Pierre had recognized him, and lie
had recogpiEo.i thsr-
And now the mass of besiegers began
their advance to the wall, which had
been beaten III sufficiently TO let them
through. IL they succeeded in clearing
this breach, they would spread them
selves over the town, and the bcSieged,
too weak TO resist, would have to aban-
don it and, with the sanguiuary temper
ament of the pirates, the victory would
be followed 10y general massacre.
The hand-to-hand struggle M this
point was terrible Under tho Doctors
orders who stood as impossible in the
dancer rs he was invlunerablc amid tho
bullets, Pierre and his companions per-
formed prodigies OF vilor, Point Pesclde
and Cape Mltifou lent their assistance.
and displayed tho most brilliant audacity.
The Hercules. with u knife in one
hand. and an axe in the other keps
clear the space around him
Go it. my Cape, 60 it! Down with
them y shouted Point Pescade, whose
revolver, incessantly rechargug and
disclar1ng, was going like Calling.
But the foe would not yield After
being many times driven ont of the
breach they had again swarmed on to
the attack, aId were slowly lighting
through It, they suddenly found them
selves attacked in the rear.
The Ferrato had managed TO get into q
commanding position, within three
cable-lengths of the shore, and with her
cannonades all brought to the one side,
her long chaser, her Hotchkiss cannons,
and her Calling mitralleuses, she pened
such fire on the assailants that they
were moved down as the grass before
the scythe. She attacked them in the
rear, and cannonaded them on tbs
beach Mt the same time, so rs to destroy
and sink the boats which had been
moored round the rocks.
The blow was terrible one, and was
quite unexpected by the Senousists.
Not only were they taken in the rear
but all means Of escape would be cut OF
If their vessels were knocked to p:ecee