e the magic! 'Tis but a man's breath. Up, lads, and take pay
for me!"

The assault started in grim, silent fury. In waves the attackers mounted
the altar; men gave comrades backs, flung them upward, only to catch
them again as they recoiled from the steel of the defense like broken
seas at a rock base.

But as the fight advanced, and stricken men were piled high on the great
altar, attacking steel reached higher and began to reap results.
Stumpy's men, now fully persuaded of their queen's regard for them,
fought like paladins, roaring out their rough sea-cries as they cut and
stabbed with increasing gusto. Even Pearse fell under the spell of
fierce action; his rapier played among the heavier strokes of cutlas and
broad-knife like summer lightning. And did a hardy pirate gain the ledge
in spite of all, there stood Milo, like a bronze Fate, with deadly ax
poised to turn success into death. Yet Stumpy's little band grew less;
and Dolores, standing over all like an Angel of Doom, saw that something
must be done speedily unless she was to be left with too great a number
of survivors from this lucky conflict.

"Make a swift assault, Stumpy. Milo, swing that great ax of thine for
only five minutes," she said. Then when the fight raged higher yet, she
drew Pearse by the arm into the secret entrance.

"Here, friend, are muskets and pistols. Load them while I pass them out.
We shall see how hungry for our blood these wolves are."

She showed him the store of arms, in a small cave next to the powder
store, and musket powder and bullets were also there. As he loaded the
weapons, she passed them out in armfuls, then gave Stumpy a flask of
powder for priming, and told him to hold out until Milo could bring up
other resources as yet unknown.

"And," she said, leading Stumpy inside for a moment, "here you see a
powder-train. There, on the floor. Now hear me, my faithful one, should
thy foes still beat thee back, bring all thy men along this passage, but
before ye come, touch a fire to this train. I shall await thee at the
end, Stumpy, and together we shall see these dogs destroyed."

She called Milo, gave him a command, and then took Pearse with her into
the great chamber. Here she answered his questioning glance with a soft
smile, and seated him in the great chair.

"Thy sword has done nobly, good John," she said, laying her hand on his
head. "The peril is over now. Rest. In a little while Milo will have
that which will fill