Page 323 - A Knight of the White Cross

exercise of their religion, and their rule, generally, had been fair and just.
The wealth and prosperity of the Island had increased enormously since

their establishment there, and the population had no inclination whatever to
change their rule for that of the Turks. The summons to surrender being

refused, the enemy made a reconnaissance towards the walls.

D'Aubusson had no longer any reason for checking the ardour of the

knights, and a strong body of horsemen, under the command of De
Monteuil, sallied out and drove the Turks back to their camp.

Maitre Georges, who was acting as the military adviser of the pasha, saw at
once that the weakest point of the defence was Fort St. Nicholas, at the

extremity of the mole along the neck of land dividing the outer from the
inner port. At a short distance away, on the opposite side of the port, stood

the church of St. Anthony, and in the gardens of the church a battery was at
once erected. The garden was but three hundred yards from St. Nicholas,
and the danger that would arise from the construction of the battery was at

once perceived, and an incessant fire opened upon it from the guns on the
wall round the grand master's palace. Numbers of the workmen were killed,

but the erection of the battery was pushed on night and day, and ere long
three of the immense cannon that had been brought from Constantinople, -­
where sixteen of them had been cast under the direction of Maitre Georges

-- were placed in position. These cannon were eighteen feet in length, and
carried stone balls of some twenty-six inches in diameter.

Before these were ready to open fire, Gervaise had entirely regained his
health and strength. The grand master, being unwilling to appoint him to a

separate command over the heads of knights many years his senior, had
attached him to his person in the capacity of what would now be called an

aide-de-camp.

"I know, Gervaise, that I can rely upon your coolness and discretion. I

cannot be everywhere myself, and I want you to act as my eyes in places
where I cannot be. I know that the knights, so far as bravery and devotion

are concerned, will each and every one do his best, and will die at their
posts before yielding a foot; but while fighting like paladins they will think