Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/474

440 one felt that it would be impossible to accept the offer of safety thus ignominiously tendered. They had requested permission to abandon the fort, but they were not prepared to yield, their places in so honourable a struggle to others. An earnest letter was therefore instantly forwarded to the Bourg, imploring pardon for their previous rebellious conduct, and begging to be permitted still to retain the post of honour. This was the result which La Valette had foreseen, but he did not deem it prudent to accept the submission too promptly. He coldly declined their offer, and once more directed them to prepare for instant relief. This refusal increased the general dismay, and a still more pressing request was forwarded, again imploring that they might have an opportunity of wiping out in their blood the memory of what had passed. They pledged themselves, should they be permitted to remain at their post, to hold it to the very last. This was all that La Valette had desired; the garrison were now roused to such a pitch of enthusiasm that the continued defence of St. Elmo could with safety be intrusted to them. Contenting himself, therefore, with sending into the work a further strong reinforcement, he prepared to await the issue. These incidents had all occurred on the nights of the 13th and 14th of June.

The incessant cannonade of the besiegers had destroyed vast masses of the ramparts, and at length instructions were given by Mustapha for a general assault. During the whole of the 15th of June their artillery played so furiously that the defenders were unable to repair any of the damages. This cannonade was, towards evening, still further increased by fire opened from the fleet. Mustapha, confident of carrying the work on the following day, had directed his ships to be in readiness to force the entrance of the Mama Muscetto as soon as the assault commenced, and for this purpose they arrived from Mama Scirocco that afternoon.

These and other unmistakable symptoms warned the besieged of the impending attack. They therefore took every precaution that their limited means permitted to resist it to the death. huge piles of rock were collected on the parapets, to be hurled on the besiegers’ columns when in the ditch. The knights were told off so that one of them should stand between every three