Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/463

Rh partly in St. Thomas’s bay. A small body of knights, under the marshal Coppier, had been sent out to watch the proceedings of the enemy and to cut off stragglers. One of these named De la Rivière fell into the hands of the Turks and was brought before Mustapha, who questioned him closely as to the resources of the place. Rivière assured the pasha that the most complete preparations had been made for the defence, and that the garrison was determined to hold out to the last, being in full assurance of relief from Sicily. On this Mustapha directed that he should be submitted to torture, which for some time he bore with the most unflinching resolution. At length, feigning to be overcome by the agony, he informed the pasha that the post of Castile, at the eastern angle of the land front of the Bourg, was the weakest part of the fortifications. Relying upon this information Mustapha advanced towards the town, intending to make an immediate attack at that point; but on reaching Mount Salvator, a considerable eminence to the southeast of the Bourg, he perceived at a glance that his prisoner had deceived him, and that the angle indicated was in reality the most invulnerable part of the works. The unfortunate knight fell a victim to his constancy, as Mustapha immediately directed him to be put to death.

The appearance of the Turkish army in front of the town was the signal for a number of skirmishes between their advanced posts and small parties of the garrison. La Valette permitted these desultory encounters to be carried on for some time to accustom his troops to the appearance and weapons of the enemy. When he considered that this end had been fairly attained he directed them to remain behind their ramparts, knowing that he could but ill spare any of his slender force in combats which led to no decisive result.

Counsels were divided in the Turkish camp as to the course which should now be pursued. Before leaving Constantinople Solyman had enjoined both Mustapha and Piali to pay the utmost attention and to give the greatest possible weight to the advice of Dragut, who was to join the expedition after its landing. The corsair had not as yet arrived, and in his absence Piali was of opinion that no active measures should be taken, but that they should simply entrench their position. Mustapha,