D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 279: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXIV. TAPPING THE VOLCANO, To Porthos’ troop no further resistance arose; they were soon at the Casa del Corregidor. Count Jorge was there, compelled ‘to sit down before it for a siege, since it was shut up close. Here and there, in fresh-cut holes in the floors of the overhanging story and balconies, musket muzzles protruded, with a brass blunderbuss or two. At the small windows dangled by iron handles those hand-grenades brought by the Coast Brothers. ‘These were not fixed upon or grappled at, for fear they would explode at a touch and rain down inextinguishable fires. Beyond the small body of Spanish formed another ring, or several circles, augmenting each instant, as if the darkness called the wolves out of their coverts. Among them, Porthos thought he recognized more than one of his assailants; they had bound bandages over their heads as if they had been cracked over the pate by his sword-flat, or pommeled. Marianda was fretting sorely. “Your delay was bad, but, altogether, our being held at bay is fatal!” grumbled he, after thanking him for the arrival and asking after his companion. “My men hesi- tate to attack, fearing the prowess of these pirates, as they esteem them, and that this gathering rabble will fall on our rear, if we meet a reverse. Lookers-on may be leapers-on in such in-and-in fighting.” ‘My lord, they fight like desperadoes, though indiffer- ently armed. And those seamen are indeed to be dreaded, using pike and axe and delighting in hand-to-hand en- counters. That crowd does not murmur—I most dis- trust those long cloaks—they are hiding firedogs, I wager !”’ The lookers- on were too calm; no murmurs, as Por- thos said; staring, counting the soldiers and their arms; seeming to wait patiently for a signal, but whether to fall on the Spanish or aid them to assault the Corrector’s castle, none could tell. Gomichooks:com —