Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/285

Rh crowded with citizens, eager to mark the progress of the fray; whilst on the brow of St. Stephen’s hill stood Paleologus himself, filled with the keen excitement natural in one to whom success would be everything, and failure perdition. Amid the clouds of smoke and dust but little was to be seen. Ever and anon, as a passing gust of wind raised the dark veil for a moment, might be distinguished that noble band, thinned in numbers and faint with toil, but still standing unsubdued, and in proud defiance, on their shattered bulwarks, whilst the ruins were covered with the corpses of those who had fallen in the struggle. That same glimpse would also show the Moslem, undaunted by the opposition he was encountering, still swarming up the blood-stained pathway, striving by the sheer weight of numbers to surmount the obstacle which had already proved fatal to so many of his comrades.

Throughout this eventful day, D’Aubusson retained his post with the defenders of the fort. Utterly regardless of his own life he was to be found wherever the fray was thickest, or support most needed. His exposure of himself was, indeed, so reckless as to call forth the earnest remonstrances of his friends. On one occasion, having been struck on the head by a large fragment of stone which destroyed his helmet, he coolly selected another from the head of a fallen soldier; and when remonstrated with by the commander, Fabricius Caretto (who was the governor of the fort), he replied, with a smile, “If I am killed there will be more cause of hope for you than of fear for me.” It is supposed that he desired in this speech to indicate his opinion that that knight would be his fittest successor in case of his own death. At last, whilst the fate of the day seemed still to hang uncertain in the balance, the garrison brought some fireships to bear upon the galleys of the enemy. The attempt was successful; several caught fire, and the remainder, to avoid a similar fate, were compelled promptly to retire. At the same moment the defenders of St. Nicholas made a vigorous and united dash at the breach; the ladders were overturned, and such of the enemy as had made good their footing on the summit were once more hurled headlong to its foot. The flanking batteries were all this time pouring a destructive fire on the confused and disordered mass which stood huddled at its base. Many of the leaders had fallen, their