Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/282

254 gabions, timber, and other appliances being brought into use to expedite its completion. At length, all being ready, three of the pasha’s great basilisks were seen to peep portentously through the embrasures. These basilisks, of which sixteen had been brought from the arsenal of Constantinople, had been cast under the direction of that most useful of men Maître Georges. They were of such stupendous dimensions, that their very appearance might well spread dismay amongst the ranks of the garrison. They were eighteen feet in length, and were designed to carry projectiles of from eight to nine palms in diameter. In those early days of artillery the calibre of the guns was very large and the projectiles generally of stone. Only a little powder was used, the range was therefore extremely limited. Artillerists trusted more to the weight of the missile than to the impetus with which it was projected for the desired effect to be produced. It must certainly have been by no means a reassuring incident to the defenders of Fort St. Nicholas to be battered incessantly with such gigantic artillery. The result speedily manifested itself. Although the walls had been well built and were very solid, they were not capable of withstanding for any time the huge projectiles which Maître Georges had caused to be hurled against them, and ere long, a gaping breach on the west face marked the successful practice of the gunners.

Whilst this battering was proceeding, another incident had taken place which materially affected the fortunes of the wily German. In pursuance of a plan laid down between himself and Paleologus, the dauntless scoundrel—for with all his crimes it is impossible to deny him the virtue of the most daring courage—presented himself before the walls one morning and besought admission into the town as a deserter from the Turkish camp. Taken before D’Aubusson, Maître Georges had a plausible tale ready to account for his appearance. Entirely ignoring for the moment the awkward fact of his apostasy to