Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-01
Roy, The Royalist.
BY WILLIAM WEsrALL.
CHAPTER XIII.


 As the siege went on it took more and more the character of fight for the tower, a duel between Bonaparte and PhelippcauX; and, the two men being brilliant soldiers, personal enemies, and the representatives of opposing prin- ciples, it was an exciting contest. Bon aparte was energy incarnate. The thought that tumble-town Syrian town and a medieval tower were keep ing him and his army at bay, and might thwart the most daring and romantic scheme of conquest which he had ever conceived made him wild with rage. He would take Acre; he stormed and railcd against Acre. One assault was no sooner repulsed than he ordered another. If he had been able to create fresh battalions with a stamp of his foot, he could not have sacrificed his soldiers more lavishly. Kleber called him general of ten thousand men a week."
 But
 Tho foe, invulnerable still.
 Rolled his wild rage by steady skill Phelippcaux, cool, cautious, vigilant and intrepid, and Loyalty supported by the commodore and the pasha, never allowed himself to be taken at ad- vantage, and met every one of his ad versary's moves by some fresh expe- dicnt. As fast as the breach was widened he had the rent built up wit. sand-bags and ballls of timber, in sucE fashion us to render the wall strongc than before; and time after time storm ing parties descended into the ditcl only to be driven back with heavy loss
 W nCn our spies reported that thu French engineers were making a mine with which they hoped to blow up both tower and ditch, Phelippeaux began to countcrminc; but, as the enemy had the start of him by several days, it was resolved to make a sortie in force, as well to rctard the operation by with drawing the props as to verify the di- rcction of the mine.
 The sOrtie was made in three col umns, one composed almost exclusively of English seamen and marines, among whom were as many of my own fellows us could be spared from the duties of the ship.
 We sallied forth shortly before dawn. The enemy, though not altogether un- prepared, did not expect to be assailed by SD large a force, and at the first on- set we carried all before us, captured two guns and two ammunition wagons, and drove the French from their first parallel Then they rallied, and re- turned to the charge, and the guns were rctallen and again taken several times.
 The hottest fighting took place round the mouth of the mine, of which, after desperate struggle, we obtained tenn porary possession. Several of us, led by Maj. Oldtield, brave officer of ma rines, forced our way into the gallery. Oldfield was shot dead by miner, whom l cut down the next moment with my sword.
 After unshipping as many props as we could. we hurried back to the en- trance.
 Meanwhile, the French, heavily rein forced, had resumed the offensive and forced our fellows back, and as we emerged from the mine we were all taken prisoners.
 The main body, now hopelessly out numbered, gave up the contest and re- entered the town.
 The slaughter had been frightful: the parallels and ditches were filled with the dead
 When all was over the prisoners were paradcd before Gen. Bonaparte's tent. iIe recognized me at once.
 50 we have you again, NJ. Roy?" he said, mocllingly. We have you again, and there are no foolish women to help Vou to escape. You both deceived and inSultcd me, NJ. Roy; and, what is worse, you did not act like man of honor. You agreed to accept a com mission in our navy, and then escaped by breaking your parole"
 ''lt is not true, Gen. Bonaparte"
 'What? You dare give me the lie?"
 ''l dare speak the truth; and you know that did not accept your offer of commission. Neither did I break my parole. l gave my parole not to escape cn route to Boulogne. Ask La cluse."
 "Lacluso is an idiot. If his record lad not been good, 1 would have had