Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/502

468 could not allow his vessels to run so great a risk. That fleet had been placed under his own especial command, and he alone was responsible to the sultan for its safety; he announced, therefore, that as soon as the summer began to break up he should quit Malta and return to Constantinople, either with or without the army. A constant jealousy had, indeed, from the first existed between the rival commanders of the Ottoman forces. So long as Dragut lived that feeling had been kept in check, and the Algerino had, by mutual consent, been permitted to take the lead in conducting the attack on St. Elmo, but after his death the ill-will between the two chiefs broke out with increased rancour. Each was more intent upon depriving his colleague of the honour of success than carrying on the main object of the expedition, and each felt that if he were not himself the principal actor at the capture of the island he would rather the attempt were a failure than that the other should reap the fruits of success.

Mustapha felt greatly dismayed at the now openly expressed opposition of his coadjutor; still, he retained the secret of his despondency within his own breast. Instructions were issued for a fresh general assault at all points on the 23rd August. Some friendly hand among the besiegers shot into the town an arrow, to which was attached a piece of paper having on it the word Thursday. The hint was sufficient, and La Valette at once guessed that on that day an attack of more than usual importance was to take place. A general council was summoned to deliberate upon measures of defence. It was there strongly urged that both the Bourg and Senglea should be abandoned, and that the garrison, which was so fearfully reduced, should be withdrawn into the castle of St. Angelo. The Grand-Master, however, would not listen to this proposition. He pointed out that St. Angelo was far too small to contain all the persons who would require shelter, also that the supply of water would be insufficient for their wants. Both the Bourg and Senglea must, he said, be maintained to the last, and, with the view of shewing that he was determined to carry his ideas into execution, he withdrew from the castle the greater portion of its strength to reinforce that of the two towns. Early on the morning of the 23rd the assault took