Part 50 (1/2)
”Pa.s.s the word along for all hands to keep their left shoulders against the cliff, and there is no fear,” he whispered to Small, who followed him closely with his drawn cutla.s.s, ready to guard him from any who might attack him.
This was, perhaps, the most hazardous part of the undertaking, for two or three resolute men stationed at the top might have kept the whole party at bay, or, indeed, have tumbled them all headlong down the cliffs. He well knew the cunning of the Greeks, and should they have discovered the s.h.i.+p by any chance, this was the point they would defend, in the hopes of destroying all those engaged in the expedition together.
Darkness was around them, the rugged cliff on one side, a precipice on the other, and beneath their feet a steep path or rough steps, and yet no one hesitated to follow where he led. The most perfect silence reigned over the scene, except the sound of their tread, which could just be heard above the dash of the water on the rocks below, and the scream of some wild sea-bird as it winged its flight at a distance through the calm night-air. On he went--a few more steps would place him on the summit of the cliff, in comparative safety. His hand touched the gra.s.s at the very edge of the upper step--he sprang upwards and gained a footing on the top--he breathed more freely, and his followers, one by one, ascended and took their place by him. He then advanced a little distance to defend the position and to allow the rest of the party s.p.a.ce to a.s.semble as they came up. The five minutes pa.s.sed away, and Raby led on, followed in a line by the other boats, for there was no room for two to pa.s.s abreast, and as they entered they all ran up side by side on the beach. Raby led them with the same good success as his captain, though the marines with their muskets had some difficulty in getting up, and ran no little risk of falling over again; but no casualty occurred. It was, however, a long business, thus getting up in a single file at so slow a pace, but at last the whole body were drawn up together. Captain Fleetwood, for greater convenience, separated them into two divisions, he leading the first, and Jack Raby, who was delighted with his own importance, acting at; guide to the second. It wanted just half an hour to midnight when they were put in motion. He found the greatest difficulty in pa.s.sing over the rough ground, and keeping the direct path near the cliff, without the risk of some of his followers slipping from the precipice to their left. He had, it must be remembered, gone over the same path several times in the day, and once on the night of his attempted escape, when he and his friends went to get the rope, and the arms, and provisions, or it would have been almost impossible for him to find the way. On the party went, silent as the dead, and though the sound of the marines' heavy and regular tread might have been heard at a distance, had any one been on the watch for them, the footsteps of the blue-jackets, as they sprang from rock to rock, were light almost as those of Indian warriors on any similar exploit.
The weather, which had hitherto been serene, with a gentle and balmy breeze blowing from the west, now gave symptoms of being about to undergo a change. A low moaning sound was heard as the night wind blew among the pointed rocks, and it struck with the chilly feel of the north on the right cheeks of the adventurers. It served, however, rather to raise their spirits and strengthen their muscles; they knew that their s.h.i.+ps were in safety, if the anchorage was tolerable on the lee side of the island, so they thought or cared little about the matter.
Two miles had thus to be travelled, every instant expecting discovery; for it was scarcely to be supposed that the pirates, after their late deeds, would not be on their guard against an attack. Now Fleetwood halted and listened, now he had literally to feel his way with the point of his sword, lest he should have inadvertently gone too close to the edge of the cliff, and in this manner upwards of an hour had pa.s.sed away, slowly, indeed, to those eager to know the result. At length, with a beating heart, he stood on the causeway, while a tower, the one in which he believed Ada was to be found, was faintly perceptible, rising, like some tall spectre, in the gloom before him. A light for an instant glimmered through a cas.e.m.e.nt of the story in which she resided-- it was to him the beacon of his hopes, and served to confirm him in the belief that he had reached the approach to the castle, of which, otherwise, he was somewhat uncertain.
”Shall I let off the rocket, sir?” whispered Tommy Small, who had kept close to him all the time, ready to support him had he stumbled. They were the first words which had been spoken since the heights had been gained.
”Not till the enemy discovers us,” answered his captain--”then fire.”
He had been careful not to halt his men; for he had often observed, that while the actual tread, from breaking gradually on the ear, might not be noticed, the stop and the fresh start were nearly always heard. On a sudden, however, he met with an impediment he had not expected--a high embankment ran directly across the causeway, with a ditch before it. To slip down the side of the ditch, and to climb the opposite bank, was, to seamen, the work of a moment, and, without being discovered, the first few stood on the summit. Some noise, however, scarcely to be heard, was made, and as Captain Fleetwood, with Small on one side, closely followed by the gallant old colonel, was on the point of leaping down into the ramparts, they found themselves confronted by a number of the islanders, who started up from between the guns, where they had been sleeping.
To fire the pistols was the first impulse of the pirates, and the flash aroused their comrades, as well as showed them to their a.s.sailants, who dashed down among them before they had time to unsheath their swords, and cut them down without mercy.
”Now, Small, off with the rocket,” exclaimed Captain Fleetwood, as their first opponents were disposed of.
At the word, the c.o.xswain, who had been expecting the order, let the beautiful firework fly into the air. Up it soared, making a curve towards the sea, into which it sent down a shower of glittering sparks, which had scarcely been extinguished before the _Ypsilante_, in gallant style, opened her fire on the harbour, making as much blaze and noise as she could. The British seamen, believing that all necessity for further silence was at an end, gave three hearty, soul-stirring cheers, which rung among the rocks, even above the roar of the artillery, and they then rushed on into the fosse after their companions. The sound, though it struck a panic into the hearts of the more timid of the pirates, at the same time showed them where the most imminent danger lay. The chain was across the harbour, and they knew no vessel could enter, and that their guns on that side would sink her when she attempted it, so many of the bravest hurried to the causeway, to defend the approach to the fort, while others manned the guns above the harbour, and began to return with interest the fire of the Greek brig.
All was now uproar, confusion, fire, smoke, shrieks, shouts, and curses--the roar of the brig's guns, and the sharp reports of fire-arms.
The latter, however, were but little used by the English, who trusted more to their cutla.s.ses and the points of their bayonets.
The defenders of the causeway fought with the greatest bravery, the voice of their chief encouraging them to persevere, and none gave way till they were cut down or slain. The British poured on in overwhelming force, but still the pirates struggled obstinately, strengthened by the arrival of their comrades from other parts.
Fleetwood and Colonel Gauntlett both knew the voice of Zappa.
”On, on,” they exclaimed, trying to cut their way up to the spot, where at intervals, as pistols were flas.h.i.+ng near him, they could see him flying from spot to spot, and encouraging his men, ”Seize that man, their chief--take him alive!”
The seamen did their best to come at him, but his followers, with a devotion worthy of a better object, rallying round him, kept them at bay. At last the voice which had been heard so loud was silent, and though fire-arms flashed on each side, his figure was not to be seen.
Yet the pirates did not give way, they even seemed to fight with more desperation than before, as if to make amends for his absence, or to revenge his loss. Nothing, however, could withstand the determined courage of the English; though, had not the pirates incautiously lost the post which Zappa had so judiciously formed, they might, perhaps, have been kept at bay till daylight, and, at all events, must have suffered a severe loss.
Fleetwood and the other officers encouraged their men to fresh exertions, and led the way. The pirates could no longer withstand the onset, and, within five minutes after they had leaped the ramparts, the British had gained the open s.p.a.ce under the fort, and the enemy were flying in all directions before them, some to conceal themselves among the ruins, others throwing themselves over the cliffs, to avoid, as they supposed, another death; and the greater number, still facing round, retreating by the path down the ravine. A small, but more desperate, band, under old Vlacco, not active enough to run, and too brave to yield, had entrenched themselves among the ruins, on the point directly above the harbour; and while some of them were firing away on the _Ypsilante_, and thus defending to the last the entrance to their port, the rest had slewed round some of the smaller guns towards the interior of the fort, prepared to fire the moment they could distinguish their enemies from their friends.
Meantime, Charles Fleetwood, eager in pursuit of the great object which had at first brought him to the island, the rescue of Ada Garden, led on his men to the tower. He heard the scream of a female,--the gate was open--he rushed up the steps, followed by the colonel and several others--he reached the chamber she had inhabited, a light burnt on the table--it showed the confusion around; a slight form was on one of the couches--Fleetwood flew to it. Could it be his Ada?
There he beheld a sight to sicken his heart--it was the body of poor little Mila: a ball had entered her forehead, and, as in too many cases, the innocent life had been taken. What might be the fate of her he loved best? His eye fell on Marianna, who was kneeling on the ground in an agony of terror. She lifted her head with alarm, expecting that some of the pirates had entered to wreak their vengeance on her; but when she saw who it was, she gave a shriek of delight, exclaiming--
”Oh! save my mistress, signor captain,--save my poor mistress. They have carried her away--the traitor, the false man, Signor Paolo--he and the chief. You will never see her more.”
”Where, where! which way, girl, speak?” cried Fleetwood, with feelings which no words can in any degree express.
”Oh! I don't know, signor,” answered the Maltese girl, weeping with fright and agitation, increased by the tone of his voice. ”Down through the door, signor, she and Signora Nina.”
”But, my girl, did they neither speak nor say where they were going?”
asked Fleetwood.
”Oh! yes, yes. They said the _Sea Hawk_,--the _Sea Hawk_. They will escape. Oh, Mother of Heaven! have mercy on us,” replied Marianna, through her tears.
”Enough. Down the ravine, my men. Follow me,” shouted Fleetwood, as he rushed down the steps. ”Colonel, do you remain at this tower, and prevent the pirates entering, if any rally.”