Page 336 - A Knight of the White Cross

drive a spike into one of the touch holes. He said that he would gladly
volunteer for the task."

D'Aubusson shook his head decidedly. "It would be too dangerous; and

even were a spike driven in, the Turks would have no great difficulty in
extracting it, for the tubes are so big that a man might crawl in and drive the
spike up from the inside. Moreover, could one or more of the guns be

disabled permanently, others would be brought down and set in their place,
so that nothing would be gained but a very short delay, which would be of

no advantage to us, and certainly would in no way justify the risking of the
life of so distinguished a young knight."

The bombardment of St. Nicholas continued for some days. A breach was
fast forming in the wall, and a slope composed of the fallen rubbish

extended from the front of the breach to the water's edge. The grand master
was frequently on the spot, and as this was at present the sole object of
attack, the garrison was strengthened by as many knights as could be

sheltered within its walls. At night the shattered masonry that had fallen
inside was carried out, and with it a new work thrown up across the mole,

to strengthen the defence on that side, should the enemy land between the
town and the fort. Small batteries were planted wherever they could sweep
the approaches to the breach, and planks studded with nails were sunk in

the shallow water of the harbour, to impede the progress of those who
might attempt to swim or wade across. For the time, therefore, the functions

of Gervaise were in abeyance, and he laboured with the rest of the garrison
at the defences.

At daybreak on the 9th of June, a great number of vessels and boats,
crowded with soldiers, bore down on St. Nicholas. As they approached,

every gun on the fortifications that could be brought to bear upon them
opened fire; but in a dense mass they advanced. Some made their way to
the rocks and landed the soldiers there; others got alongside the mole; but

the majority grounded in the shallow water of the harbour, and the troops,
leaping out, waded to the foot of the breach. On its crest D'Aubusson

himself had taken up his station. Beside him stood Caretto, and around
them the most distinguished knights of the Order. With wild shouts the