176 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XI.—B. S. 
nightfall another assault was made. As before, their 
aim was to fire the palisades; hut they would proba¬ 
bly have met with no more success than on the former 
occasion, had not an accident lent assistance. In the 
height of the tumult a part of the building ignited. 
All eyes being turned towards the assailants, the fire 
remained unnoticed until reaching a barrel of gun¬ 
powder. The explosion that followed produced the 
utmost consternation within the walls, and, water 
being wanting, the flames spread with rapidity, illu¬ 
minating the scene of destruction, and showing to the 
trembling garrison the savage faces of the pirates. 
The latter had taken advantage of the confusion by 
setting fire to the palisades; they now tried to climb 
the walls, but the Spaniards, anticipating this move¬ 
ment, threw down pots filled with combustible matter, 
and, fighting with bravery, succeeded for a while in 
checking the progress of the invaders ; yet, in spite of 
all their efforts, they continued to lose ground, and 
their numbers were rapidly dwindling away. At day¬ 
break the fortress was a mere ruin; the flames had 
made several breaches, earth had fallen into the ditch, 
and thus removed one of the greatest obstacles to the 
entry into the fort. Meanwhile the fighting was kept 
up, and about noon the English gained a breach, which 
was defended by twenty-five men, headed by the Go¬ 
vernor in person. A desperate struggle ensued ; the 
Governor, collecting all his men and disdaining any 
quarter, fought till a musket-shot laid him low. Resist¬ 
ance w^s now at an end, the remainder of the garrison 
either escaped or precipitated themselves into the sea J 
