Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/482

448 With the first glimpse of dawn the Turks, who had been anxiously awaiting its appearance to seize upon their prey, rushed fiercely at the breach with frantic shouts. Baffled in so many previous attempts their rage had increased with each new disaster, and now every passion in their hearts was aroused to avenge the fearful losses they had sustained. For four long hours the strife raged wildly around that fated spot, and though each moment lessened the number of the defenders, still the dauntless remnant stood firm. At length, incredible as it may seem, the Turkish force, exhausted with its efforts, once more suspended the assault. No shout of triumph at this unexpected respite arose from the ranks of the garrison, nor did any encouraging voice find its way across the water from St. Angelo. Only sixty men, mostly wounded, remained to dispute the entrance of the foe, and to their imperishable renown be it told, that it was from the almost exhausted efforts of these sixty men that the Turkish columns had recoiled.

The knights took advantage of the interval to bind up their wounds and prepare for a renewal of the conflict. Don Melehior, who was still among the survivors, perceived that the handful remaining within the fort must be overwhelmed by the first rush of the enemy. He therefore recalled the few defenders of the cavalier to reinforce the slender remnant, trusting that his abandonment of that dominating point might remain unperceived, at all events for some time. But in this he underestimated the vigilance of Mustapha. That chief had been too often worsted in his attempts on St. Elmo not to maintain a watchful eye upon all that was passing within its ruins. He detected the movement at once, and despatched a body of janissaries to occupy the abandoned work, which, from its dominant position, commanded the whole interior of the fort. This done, he gave the signal for a renewal of the assault. The defenders were taken by surprise at the suddenness of the onset, and before they had time to rally the fort was lost. All combined action was now over, and it only remained that the last scene should be enacted of that sad tragedy, which has cast such a melancholy interest over the name of St. Elmo.

No quarter was asked or given. Desultory combats in various parts of the enclosure ensued, until the last of the besieged had