The Capsina: An Historical NovelBenson, E. F. (Edward Frederic)
History
The Capsina: An Historical Novel
Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic)
Greece -- History -- War of Independence, 1821-1829 -- Fiction
The camp was on ground sloping away to the harbor, and, like the town,
below the top ridge of the promontory which rose some fifty feet above
it. It lay in oblong shape; at the south end was the custom-house, and
the powder-magazine adjoining it; at the north the first houses of
the town began. Along the top ridge of the promontory, running down
as far as the sea and up towards the town, was a stout wall, banked
up with earth; when finished it would run the complete circuit behind
the town and join the sea again at the neck of the eastern promontory.
Thus, in case of a party landing from Turkish ships, the town was
easily defensible also on the land side. As yet it was finished only
from the sea on the west to about half-way between the custom-house
and the town; it had also been begun at the eastern end, and was being
pushed rapidly forward in both directions. Out of the three Turkish
ships which the Capsina had captured at Porto Germano they had taken
twelve guns, four from each. Of these, five were already mounted in
the custom-house on the mole, and the custom-house on the west of the
quay was to receive five more. The other two, both 32-pounders, were,
according to the plan of Elias, to be mounted farther back in the
harbor in case a ship got through.
Next morning the Capsina got up at the unearthly hour between day and
night, and stormed at the camp till Mitsos, a sort of Jonah to save the
rest, was thrown out to her, heavy with sleep. But the cold, pungent
air soon shook off the cobwebs from him, and he went with the girl on a
tour of inspection. The walls of the western custom-house had already
risen above the gun-holes, and they could see that their position and
direction was well chosen. The ports were wide, and the guns could be
trained to a range of about forty-five degrees, and commanded an area
some miles broad, through which ships attempting to come to Galaxidi
must pass. The five guns in the other custom-house, on the contrary,
commanded the immediate channel and entrance to the harbor, and could
hardly fail at that close range to make good shooting. This fort was
very low, and was protected outside by an earthwork and an angle of
masonry.
"It looks but little like a custom-house," remarked Mitsos. "If I
were a Turk I should not come near though the Sultan himself held the
Turkish flag on the roof."
"I wish he did," said the Capsina, savagely; "he should not hold it
long. But see, Mitsos, I have a plan in my head."
"I have sleep only."
"Well, you are awake enough to listen. There are two other guns not yet
mounted, 68-pounders. Now the harbor has guns enough, or, at any rate,
with the six the _Revenge_ brings, will have enough. So come a little
walk with me down to the water."
"The intention is kind," remarked Mitsos, guardedly, "but I will not be
pushed into the sea by accident so that I may be more awake."
"You shall not be, great sleepy one; only come."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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