The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-12-24
lContlnuesi From Satur,iaxl


"Howy You decline Il. sirg You
decline to obey orders. do you say7"
II Understood. NJ. 10 Baron, that
you summoned us to deliberate upon
the means to bc adopted"
Then you understood amiss, NJ. 10
Cap!taine. You are hero to receive
my commands. / have already do.
liberated. and have decided. ! hope
you understand"
'oh. understand. laughed Blood.
But ask myself. do your And
without giving tho baron timc 90 set
tho angry question that was hub.
bling TO his lips. no swept on: "you
have dcllhcrated. you say. and YOU
have decided. But unless your de.
cision rests upon a wish TO destroy
my buccaneers. you will alter II when
tell you something or which have
knowledge. This city OF cartascna
looks very vulnerable on the north.
crn side. all open TO the sea as II ap.
parcntly stands. Ask yourself. NJ. 10
Baron. how camc tho Spaniards who
built II where II Is TO have been at
such trouble TO fortify II 10 the south.
II from the north II is so easily as.
sailahle."
That gave N. de Rivaroi pause. :.
The Spaniaris." Blood pursued.
fare not quite the fools you are sup.
posing them. Let me tell you. mes.
sieurs. that two years ago made. q
survey OF Cartascna as preliminary
20 raiding Il. I came hither with
some friendly Indians. myself dIsguls.
ed as an indian. and in that guiso
spent q week In the city and studied
carefully all its approaches. On tho
side OF the sea where Il looks so
tcmptingiy open 10 assault, there is
shoai water for over half mile out
FAR enough out. assure you. 10
ensure that no ship shall come with.
in bombardlng range OF II. II Is not
safe to venture nearer land than
threc-Quarters OF mile"
But our landing viii be effected In
canoes and piraguas and open boats
cried an officer lmpaticntiy.
in the calmest season OF the year,
tho surf viii hinder any such opera.
lion. And you viii also bear In mind
that IL landing were possible. rs YOU
arc suggesting. that landing could
not be covered by the ships guns. In
fact. II Is the landing parties that
would be in danger from their own
artillery"
.'If the attack is made by night, as
propose. covering will be unneceg-
sary. You should DO ashore In force
before the spaniards arc aware OF
the intent"
You are assuming that Cartagena
Is n city OF tho blind. that at this
very moment they are not coming
our sails and asking themselves who
we are and what we Intend"
But II they feel themselves se-
cure from the north. as you suggest. /"
cried the baron impatientiy. ''that
very security win lull them
Perhaps. But. then. they arc 80.
cure. Any attempt to land on this
side II doomed to failure NJ the hands
cf Nature"
.Scvcrtheless. we make tho at
Tempt said the obstinate baron.
whose haughtiness would not allow
him to yield before his officers.
IF you still choose to do so after
what I have said. YOU arc. OF course.
the person TO decide. But do not
lead my men into fruitiess danger"
II command you Z the baron
was beginning. But Blood uneere-
moniously interrupted him.
M. 10 Baron. when ". de Cussy
engaged US on your behalf. Il WAS as
much on account OF our knowledge
and experience OF this class OF war.
faro as on account OF our strength.
I have placed my own knowledge and
experience In this particular matter
at your disposal. / will add that
abandoned my own project Of raiding
Cartagena. not being in sufficient