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

narrow entrance, Tho fort WAS re,
tho firo vigorously and Wei.
,usly. But tho buccaneers timed their
with extraordinary judg.
mont TO catch tho defending ordnance
rclonding; then as they drew tho
Spanlarda' fire. they swung away
again. not only taking caro- 10 be
ever moving targets. but, further, TO
present no more than bow or stern
to tho fort, their masts In line. when
tho heaviest cannonades were TO be
expected.
Glbboring nn9 oursIng. M. do ri.
varol stood there and watched this
action. so prcsumptuously under.
taken by Blood on his own rcsponsi.
bility. The officers OF tho victorIeuso
crowded round him. but II was not
until NJ. dc cussy came 20 Join tho
group that he opened tho alulces OF
his rage. And NJ. do Cussy himself
invited tho deluge that now caught
him. iIe had como up rubbing his
hands and taking n proper satIsfac-
ton in the energy of tho men whom
he had enlisted.
AHA. NJ. dc Rivarolr' no laughed.
lilo understands HIS business, eh.
this Captain Blood. He'll plant tho
Lilies OF France on that fort before
breakfast"
The baron swung upon him srarl.
Ing. "Ho understands HIS business.
ehg His business. let me toll you. NJ.
do cuasy. Ia 10 obey my orders. and
have not ordered this. Par In Nor.
dicu, When this II over III deal with
him for his damned nsubordination. I"
Surely. NJ. 10 Baron. ne viii have
Justified II II he succeeds"
Justified ~ All. parblcu. Can n
soldier ever justify acting without
orders?" He raved on furIously, his
officers supporting him out OF their
dctestation OF Captain Blood.
Meanwhile tho fight went merrlly
on. Tho fort was suffering badly.
Yet for all their maneuyering the
buccaneers wero not escaping punish.
ment. The starboard gunwaie or the
A,ropos had been hammered into
splinterE. and shot had caught her
astern in the coach. Tho Elizabeth
was badly battered about tho forccaa.
tie, and the Arabella'H malntop had
been shot away, whilst toward tho
ED OF that engagement the Lache.
sis came Keeling OH. Of tho fight with
a shattered rudder. steering herself
by sweeps.
The absurd baron's eyes positively
cleaned with satisfaction.
II pray Heaven they may sink all
hts Internal shipsm he cried in his
frenzy.
But Heaven didn't hear him.
Scarcely had he spoken than there
was a terrific explosion. and half the
fort went Up In fragments, A lucky
shot from tho buccaneers had found
the pss4er magazine.
II may have been couple OF hours
later. when Captain Blood. ms spruce
and cool as II he had just come from
a tcrce. stepped upon the quarter.
deck Of the VlotorIeuse. TO confront
~. de RivaTol. still In brdguwn and
nighteap.
II have to report. NJ. 10 Baron. that
we are In possession OF the fort ON
Boca chlca. Tho standard OF France
IL flying from what remains OF lta
tower. and tho way into the outer
harbor Is open 20 your fleet"
NJ. de Riyarol was compelled 10
swallow his fury. tho Il chokcd him.
Tho jubilatlon among his officers had
been such that hc could not continue
as he had begun. Yet his eyes were
malcyolent. his face paio with anger.
You are fortunate. NJ. Blood. that
sou succeeded" no sald. 1T would
have gone very III with you Ind yon
failed Another time be so good as
20 await my ordcrs. lest you should
afterwards lack the justification
which your good fortune has procur.
ed you this morning"
Blood smiled with flash OF white
teeth. md bowed.
Il shall be giad Of your orders now.
general. for pursuing our advantage.
You realize that speed In striking r.
the first essential"
Riyarol was loft gaping a moment.
Absorbed in his ridiculous anger. he
had considered nothing. But he made
a quick recovery. ITO my cabin. II
you please" he commanded percmp-
torily. and was turning TO lead the
way. when Blood arrested him.
with submission. my general. We
shall be better here. You behold thorc
the scene Of our coming action. II Is
spread before you like Il map" He
waved his hand towards tho lagoon,
tho country Thinking Il and tho con.
siderable city standing back from the
beach. IF Il Is not presumption in
me to offer n suggestion !" lie
paused. NJ. do Rivarol looked az him
sharply. suspecting irony. But tho
swarthy face was bland. the keen
eyes steady.
let US hear your suggestion" he
consented.
Blood pointed out the fort ut the
mouth OF the inner harbor. which was
Just barely visible above the waving
palms on the intervening tongue OF
land. He announced that It's armn.
ment was iess formidable than that
OF the outer fort. which they had re.
ducod; but on the other hand, the
passage was very much narrower
than that OF tho outer fort. which
they had reduced; but on the other
hand. the passage was very much mar.
rover than tho Boca Chlca. and be.
fore they could attempt 10 make Il
in any case, they must dispose OF
those dofenses. lie proposed that
tho French ships should enter tho
outer harbor and proceed at once 10
bombardment. Meanwhile. he would
land 900 buccaneers and some artil.
lery on the eastern side OF the lagoon.
beyond the fragrant garden islands
dense with richly bearing fruit trees.
and proceed simultaneously 10 storm
the fort In the rear Thus best on
TT ..fana 80 nucn .,1 Jn.....aft.- 4