roops worked these five guns and the three captured in
Southwell's first attack Jack Stilwell was sent off on horseback at full
speed with an order for the landing of the heavy guns and mortars from
the fleet. The news of the attack on Montjuich and the retreat of the
Spanish column spread with rapidity through the country, and swarms of
armed peasants flocked in. These the earl dispersed among the ravines
and groves round the city, so as to prevent any parties from coining
out to ascertain what was going on round Montjuich, and to mask the
movements of the besiegers.

Velasco appeared paralyzed by the energy and daring of his opponent,
and although he had in hand a force equal if not superior to that which
Peterborough could dispose of, he allowed two days to pass without
attempting to relieve Montjuich. In those two days wonders had been
performed by the soldiers and sailors, who toiled unweariedly in
dragging the heavy guns from the landing place to the hill of Montjuich.
The light cannon of the besiegers had had but little effect upon the
massive walls of the fortress, and the Prince Caraccioli held out for
two days even against the heavier metal of the mortars and siege guns
that were quickly brought to bear upon him.

On the 17th, however, Colonel Southwell by a well aimed shot brought
the siege to a close. He noticed that a small chapel within the fort
appeared to be specially guarded by the besieged, and ordered a Dutch
sergeant of artillery, who was working a heavy mortar, to try to drop
a shell upon it. The artilleryman made several attempts, but each time
missed the mark. Colonel Southwell undertook the management of the
mortar himself, and soon succeeded in dropping a shell upon the roof
of the building, which proved, as he had suspected, to be in use as a
magazine. There was a tremendous explosion, the chapel was shattered
into fragments, Caraccioli and three other officers were killed, and a
great breach was blown in the main rampart.

A loud cheer broke from the besiegers, and Colonel Southwell at once put
himself at the head of the men in the trenches and advanced to storm
the breach before the enemy could recover from their confusion. The
disastrous effects of the explosion had, however, scared all idea of
further resistance out of the minds of the defenders, who at once
rushed out of the works and called out that they surrendered, the senior
surviving officer and his companions delivering up their sw