Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/507

Rh of so many of their comrades who had fallen in the defence. No entreaties, no commands could restrain their impetuosity, and they openly declared that if the force were not at once led to the attack they would rush on the enemy unsupported. Corneo perceived that he could not hold them back; he therefore decided upon making the best possible use of the enthusiasm by which they were fired, and which had spread through his troops. No sooner had the Ottoman army reached the foot of the hill than he ordered a general advance. Down rushed the battalion of knights, the White Cross banner waving in the van, and their brandished weapons gleaming in the sun as though eager to be bathed in the blood of the enemy. The Turks, who had with difficulty been brought thus far, were struck with awe at the furious onset. Without waiting for the shock they turned and fled with precipitation.

In vain did Mustapha strain every nerve to rally his flying soldiers; twice he was unhorsed, and several times did he with his own hand cut down the foremost of the fugitives, in his vain endeavour to stem the torrent of the flight. The general terror was too universal for him to withstand, and he was at length himself carried away by the stream. On came the pursuers, heedless of aught but revenge. Every precaution was neglected, all discipline lost, even their very armour was cast aside that they might act with greater vigour and activity against the unresisting adversary. In tumultuous disarray they reached the shore and strove to prevent the embarkation of the Turks. Here, however, they were brought to a check. Mustapha, before advancing into the island, had left Hassan, the Algerine corsair, with 1,500 men to cover the place of embarkation. This force was judiciously posted, so that when the knights came streaming in confusion to the spot, they were received with so deadly a fire as almost to threaten their annihilation. Surrounded by this new enemy, and exhausted by their rapid advance, they must inevitably have been cut to pieces had not Corneo quickly made his appearance with the main body of his troops. As it was, many fell, and a few were for he moment taken prisoners. These, however, were speedily rescued by the advancing force, the Turks driven on board their galleys, and the island at length cleared of all its foes.