Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/238

212 Timour’s precautions had been so well taken that there was no possibility of failure. Whilst the defenders were gallantly struggling to resist the assailants emerging from the central compartments of Timour’s machines, those on the lower floor were able to prosecute their labours unrestrained. Ere long huge gaps appeared in the masonry of the ramparts, supported only by wooden props inserted for the purpose. These timbers were well saturated with naphtha, and then on a given signal ignited. As the flames devoured the wood the supports gave way, and a large mass of rampart fell with a crash to the ground. With shouts of exultation the enemy poured through the breach, and overcoming by their numbers every obstacle the defenders could put in their way, they succeeded in planting the banner of Islam over the conquered citadel.

Timour did not on this occasion depart from the practice he invariably pursued after the display of his black flag. A universal massacre of garrison and town speedily followed the termination of the conflict. A few of the inhabitants succeeded in forcing their way to the shore, whence by swimming they reached a vessel then cruising in the offing, but with the exception of these all fell beneath the sword. The Order of St. John had on that day to mourn the loss of every one of those brave brethren to whom it had confided the defence of Smyrna. The heads of the slain when decapitated were, in accordance with Timour’s usual custom, raised into a pyramid. On the day following the capture the fleet from Rhodes appeared in sight bearing reinforcements for the besieged. The Tartar caused his artillerists to hurl with their machines some of the heads of the slain at the advancing foe. They thus perceived that. they had arrived too late, and were compelled to return to Rhodes, bearing the melancholy intelligence of the loss of Smyrna, and the massacre of its heroic garrison.