.

Charlie gave the word, and with a rush they entered the upper fort.
There were but two or three men there, who were just hurrying out with
their bags of powder. These, before they realized the position, were
instantly knocked down and bound. The gate of the fort was then shut
and barred, and the party ran up to the bastion above.

Not a single pirate was to be seen there. The six guns, which stood
there, were at once loaded with grape; and a heavy discharge was
poured into the crowded masses of pirates, upon the bastions on the
sea face. These, already greatly disturbed at finding that most of
their guns had, in some way, been rendered useless; were panic
stricken at this sudden and unexpected attack from the rear. Many of
them broke from their guns and fled to shelter, others endeavoured to
turn their cannon to bear upon the magazine.

The wildest confusion raged. At last some of their leaders rallied the
men; and, with yells of fury, a rush was made towards the magazine.
They were received with another discharge of grape, which took
terrible effect. Many recoiled, but their leaders, shouting to them
that the guns were discharged, and there were but a dozen men there,
led them on again.

Charlie leaped upon the edge of the parapet, and shouted:

"If you attack us, we will blow up the magazine. I have but to lift my
hand, and the magazine will be fired."

The boldest of the assailants were paralysed by the threat. Confusion
reigned throughout the fortress. The fleet kept up their fire with
great vigour; judging, by the feebleness of the reply, that something
unusual must be happening within the walls. The gunners, disheartened
by finding their pieces useless, and unable to extract the wooden
plugs, while Charlie's men continued to ply them with grape, left
their guns and, with the greater portion of the garrison, disorganized
and panic stricken, retired into shelter.

A shell from the ships, falling on to a thatched building, set it on
fire. The flames rapidly spread, and soon all the small huts occupied
by the garrison were in flames. The explosion of a magazine added to
the terror of the garrison, and the greater portion of them, with the
women and children, ran down to the water; and, taking boats,
attempted to cross to Fort Goa, on the mainland. They were, however,
cut off by the English boats, and captured.

Commodore James, who commanded the squadron, now directed his fire at
Fort Goa; which was being