Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/291

Rh The 19th of June was selected for the attempt, and at about midnight the various detachments were set in motion. It had been ordered that whilst the bridge was being hauled into its position a large body of troops, shipped for the purpose on board some of their smaller craft, should approach the mole, and make a sudden dash at the battered tower. They thought that perhaps in the darkness of the night they might take the garrison unawares. The incident of the anchor, however, forewarned D’Aubusson that the moment of assault was close at hand. Every step that prudence could suggest, or engineering skill could devise, had been taken to meet the impending shock. Through the darkness of the night there were keen eyes peering in silent watchfulness on the crest of the breach, whose vigilance it was vain for the Turk to attempt eluding. The first strain upon the rope with which the pasha had hoped to warp his bridge across shewed that his device had been discovered, and the besiegers were consequently brought to a standstill at their very earliest step. Unwilling to waste all the preparations he had made, Paleologus decided, in spite of this failure, to proceed with his attack. He therefore ordered the head of the bridge to be towed to its destination, and whilst this operation was being carried out with laborious slowness he gave the signal for the advance of the troops embarked in the boats. Their approach was at once discovered by the garrison, the alarm was quickly given, and a desperate fire was opened on them from all sides. Secrecy being at an end, the boats dashed forward, and on reaching the rocks the troops they carried rushed at the breach.

The struggle was carried on by both parties with equal obstinacy and determination, but in the darkness of the night little could be distinguished of the desperate combat which was raging round the devoted tower. The scene was lit up by the constant flashes of the artillery, which poured its destructive fire upon the crowded masses of the besieger’s battalions, whilst the lurid glare shed around by the Greek fire which was poured on the assailants, added yet another terror to the picture. Amid the roar of the guns, the clashing of arms, the shouts of the combatants, and the cries of the wounded, the strife continued with unabated violence, presenting a spectacle to those who were looking on, at once awful in its grandeur and terrible in its