Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/281

Rh token could have been given of the unanimity and good fellowship which at that time existed between the professors of the two creeds.

As soon as the Turks had established themselves in their camp, they began to push forward reconnoissances in front of the walls. It suited neither the policy of D’Aubusson nor the temper of his troops to permit these approaches to be continued unchecked. A sortie was consequently made with a chosen body of cavalry, led by the viscount de Monteuil in person, in which, after a slight combat—little more indeed than a skirmish—the Turks were driven back to their camp. In this affair Demetrius Sophiano, another of the three traitors who had hoped to reap such a golden harvest from the results of their villainy, met his death. His horse having been killed, he was unable to disengage himself from the fallen animal, and the advancing squadrons of the enemy, charging over his prostrate body, trampled him to death in the mélée. The knights in this struggle lost one of their own number, a member of the langue of Auvergne, named Murat, who, having pushed too far in front in the ardour of the moment, was surrounded by spahis. He was speedily put to death, anti his head borne away in triumph on a spear.

Meanwhile the pasha had been in close consultation with Maître Georges as to the point he should select for the attack. That worthy, whose keen eye instantly grasped the importance of the post of St. Nicholas, suggested that the whole weight of the besieging force should be thrown against that fort. To this Paleologus, who had every confidence in the opinion of the German, readily assented. A battery was at once commenced within the gardens of the church of St. Anthony, a convenient spot whence the powerful battering train which had been brought from Constantinople might vomit its ponderous missiles against the rampart of St. Nicholas, from a distance of about 300 yards. The knights, on their side, anxious to impede the construction of so dangerous a work, opened fire on the rising battery from some guns which they placed on a platform on the north side of the Grand-Master’s palace, from which spot they were able to enfilade it. In spite of all obstructions, and in the face of a large loss in men, the work continued to advance,