esistance was now
offered, and the Ternates tore down the burning palisades, and forced
their way into the intrenchment, and with their scimitars and creeses
put to death all who had been so unfortunate as not to take refuge in
the citadel. These were chiefly native servants, whom the attack had
surprised, and for whose lives the Portuguese seemed to care but little,
for they paid no attention to their cries to lower the drawbridge, and
admit them into the fort.

The factory, built of stone, and all the other houses, were on fire, and
the island was lighted up for miles. The smoke had cleared away, and
the defences of the fort were now plainly visible in the broad glare of
the flames. "If we had scaling-ladders," cried Philip, "the fort would
be ours; there is not a soul on the ramparts."

"True, true," replied Krantz, "but even as it is, the factory walls will
prove an advantageous post for us after the fire is extinguished; if we
occupy it, we can prevent them showing themselves while the ladders are
constructing. To-morrow night we may have them ready, and having first
smoked the fort with a few more fagots, we may afterwards mount the
walls, and carry the place."

"That will do," replied Philip, as he walked away. He then joined the
native chiefs, who were collected together outside of the intrenchment,
and communicated to them his plans. When he had made known his views,
and the chiefs had assented to them, Schriften, who had come with the
expedition unknown to Philip, made his appearance.

"That won't do; you'll never take that fort, Philip Vanderdecken. He!
he!" cried Schriften.

Hardly had he said the words when a tremendous explosion took place, and
the air was filled with large stones, which flew and fell in every
direction, killing and maiming hundreds. It was the factory which had
blown up, for in its vaults there was a large quantity of gunpowder, to
which the fire had communicated.

"So ends that scheme, Mynheer Vanderdecken. He! he!" screamed
Schriften; "you'll never take that fort."

The loss of life and the confusion caused by this unexpected result
occasioned a panic, and all the Ternate people fled down to the beach
where their peroquas were lying.

It was in vain that Philip and their chiefs attempted to rally them.
Unaccustomed to the terrible effects of gunpowder in any large
quantities, they believed that something supernatural had occurred, and
many of them jumped into the pero