D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 163: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OHAPTER XXI. THIN THREADS, BUT STRONG. As a military organizer, the king’s musketeer thor- oughly proved his capability. Without showing it su- perficially, Las Salinas was soon transformed. As the fishers came in, straggling from having stood out to the north to avoid the storm center, or from the south, where they had sought refuge round the headland, they were marshaled into a kind of flying picket. No sur- prise by sea was possible. Fortunately, for giaining time, San Sebastian was badly damaged. Squalls continued, alternating with land breezes, so that search along shore from that port was limited. The particular search was for the noble prince on the Amor de Dios, who was reported cer- tainly dead, as no survivors were discovered, though portions of her hull were met at every turn. Her dead were identified and not treated any too well, from being classed as would-be traitors. All allusion to the as- sassination was prohibited. Not one of the searchers came into view of the spies from Las Salinas, and those fishers who were directed by D’Artagnan to go to the harbor for news, returned with useless advices as re- garded the first stronghold of the upstart monarch. He had a long conference with Soleiman and the Frenchman, after which he departed, glad in a measure at having the disbursement of the cash, for the pleasure of some money-lovers is in the spending thereof. Be- tween the duke’s special knowledge of the officers of trust whom he was to bribe, and the local knowledge D’Artagnan had acquired in his tour of investigation, he ought to remove many a stumbling block when the pretender advanced with a force. Juan de Braganza had a sea guard, under the ex-lieu- tenant of the Messier, whom he created knight and naval commander; a land guard under D’Artagnan and Porthos, his second; a treasurer in the Soleiman; and GOmiIcbooks-com