Page 346 - A Knight of the White Cross

Then, with salutes on both sides, the Turks took their places in the boats,
and the knights returned to the fort. As soon as darkness came on, a large

body of slaves were marched down from the town, and, under the direction
of the knights, laboured all night at the mound, removing great quantities of

the fallen stones and rubbish in a line halfway up it, and piling them above
so as to form a scarp across the mound that would need ladders to ascend.
Another party worked at the top of the mound, and there built up a wall

eight feet high. The work was completed by daylight, and the knights felt
that they were now in a position to resist another attack, should Paleologus

again send his troops to the assault.

The night had passed quietly. There was a sound of stir and movement in

the Turkish battery, but nothing that would excite the suspicion of a large
body of troops being in motion. When it became light it was seen that the

Turkish ships had sailed away to their previous anchorage on the other side
of the Island, and although at considerable intervals the great cannon hurled
their missiles against the fort, it was evident that, for the time at least, the

attack was not to be pressed at that point. A fresh body of slaves, however,
came down from the town to relieve those who had been all night at work,

and the repair of the defences was continued, and with greater neatness and
method than had been possible in the darkness.

At eight o'clock the bells of St. John's Church gave notice that a solemn
service of thanksgiving for the repulse of the enemy was about to be held.

Notice had been sent down early to the tower; and all the knights who
could be spared, without too greatly weakening the garrison, went up to
attend it; the service was conducted with all the pomp and ceremony

possible, and after it was over a great procession was formed to proceed to
the shrine, where a picture of the Virgin held in special reverence by the

Order was placed.

As it wound through the streets in splendid array, the grand master and

officials in all their robes of state, the knights in full armour and the
mantles of the Order, while the inhabitants in gala costume lined the streets,

windows, and housetops, the ladies waving scarves and scattering flowers
down on the knights, the roar of great cannon on the south side of the city