Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-02-02
CHAPrER xII-Cosr1yuEp

CfdAFIE6 AlL-COHT1NUED.
/ could not agree with the commo-
dorc's estimate of Djezzar. Whatever
else he might be, the pasha was certain
" not wanting in energy; and he pos
sessed many OF the qualities which go
to the making Of great captain. 1t is
quite possible, nay, highly probable.
that without Sir Sidney Smith. his ships
and his sailors, Acre would have fallen;
but it would have fallen with honor.
The pasha had sworn to bury himself
in the ruins rather than surrender; and
there is no question that he would have
been as good as his word.
On the other hand, he counted mems
lives as nothing, and was cynically con-
temptuous of the rules of civilized war
fare Bonaparte, having made fruit
less attempt to induce Djezzar to re-
ceive him as friend, sent an envoy
with summons to surrender and an
offer of terms. For answer Djezzar cut
off the mans head and sent it back to
Bonaparte as gage of defiance.
Meanwhile che French were digging
their trenches, bringing up their guns,
and constructing epaulments, to protect
themselves from the ships and gunboats,
kept up n continual fire.
1t presently became evident that the
principal battery was to be opposite the
great tower.
There! Did I not tell you SOP" ex-
claimed Phelippeaux. with great salts
faction, pointing to this part of the enc
my's work.
Tell me what?"
THAT Boaaparte is a bad hand at q
siege. He win try to breach the tower
before he attacks the curtain" THAT
part of the wall between the fanking
bastions); land the tower is precisely
the strongest of our defenses. The cur
tain is not worthy to be called de-
Tense"
''Bonaparte has generally reason
for what he ,loes," l answered, q little
coldly. for it seemed to y1e that the colo
mel wa, letting his hatred of his old
class companion blind his Judgment.
HE has I reason in this instance. He
is in a hurry, and no doubt thinks that
the capture OF the tower will lead to
the immediate surrender CT the town"
''Hc is mistaken. The struggle will
only begin then" observed Djezzar,
who was with rs on the ramparts.
Exactly. The pasha's troops cannot
stand before the French in the open
country; but behind walls and in =
st-eet-ight they viii hold their own
against the best troops in the world. 1t
is their meter. And Bonaparte is COM
hitting the great mistake Of undcrvalu-
ing his enemy. He not only thinks that
If he takes the tower the town will
yield, buG that he can take the tower
by c conp &c main. Moreover, his camp
and his "or,:s are badly guarded"
I'VE will make scrtic," said
Djez.ar.
This was what Phclippcaux wanted,
but it Was better that the proposal
shoald come from the ;,asi,a.
BY al means. Whc1?' he asked.
Tomorrow morning, an hour before
dawn; the time when those who watch
AID work are beginning TO flag, and
those who sleep sleep the most sound
IT,"
ITO whom will you assign the
luty?"
My Maugrabins."
And ray Kargaroos," I exclaimed,
eagerly, for was spelling for fight.
''If you like. Bring twenty. No
more. a large party wovld make too
creray by surprise. We shall muster
in front OF the great mosque"
Phelippcaux concrrrcd, and after
some further conversation we parted,
the colonel to look after the compile
ton Of his dcfenses, SO far as they
could be completed. Djczzar and my
SELF to select our men and make
arrangements for the morrow.
It was essential 10 success that our
design should be kept sccret--a condi-
ton. however, which it was difficult to
sccnrc, for the French had spies in our
camp rs we had spies in theirs, and 4
single incG-tious word might reveal
oar plans and ruin the enterprise. On
tic other hand, VIC could no more
muster three or four hundred picket
men SO carly in the morning without
giving them notice the night before
than they could march to the
rendezvous without being observed.
We cocld only keep our own counsel,
enjoin strict secrecy on the officers,
and toll them cnlv what was absolute
Is neccr -. AS for my Kangarocs,
mcrcl- i'll them to parade ct half
past to. with their pistols and side
ari.:s.
=, = wcre punctual 10 the minute.
-, Sc marched swiftly AID silently TO
great mosque. AS work went on
&c Notifications all night through,
| part of the garrison was keeping
Itch aad ward on the walls, many
.eoplc Tcrc nfoot-aTnong them
several dorvishcs-and it struck me
that the guisc of dervish was just the
guisc which French spy would be
was mere idea, and Djezzar, if had
mentioned it to him, would probably
have killed every dervish he could
catch, held my peace.
The Maugrabins reached the readez-
vous at the same time rs ourselves
with thorn Djez-ar and Murad. The
pasha surprised me by saying that he
intended to lead the sortic in person.
cried hard to dissuade him; for, being
the only Turkish officer in the place
good for anything and on whom we
could depend, his life was precious But
/ failed to win him from his purpose.
TWAS the first sortie. He must see how
his officers behaved. Well led, he said,
his men would fight like lions; badly
led, they would run; ond unless they
were under his own eye he was never
sure they would be well led. Moreover.
he had no fear for the result. His tiEae
was not co1e.
This was final. said 10 more. Our
a