Page 357 - A Knight of the White Cross

a fierce fight with the Turkish vessels that bore down to arrest the course of
the fire ships. The scene was indeed a terrible one, the roar of cannon, the

shouts of the combatants, the screams of the poor wretches upon whom the
terrible Greek fire fell, the clash of arms and the shouts and cries of the

Turks as they pressed across the bridge, united in a din that thrilled with
horror the spectators, both in the city and on St. Stephen's Hill.

Several of the Turkish galleys, in their efforts to arrest the approach of the
fire ships towards the bridge, became themselves involved in the flames;

but they were so far successful that when daylight broke the bridge was still
intact and the combat at the breach continued to rage with determination
and fury on both sides. The Turks there were led by a brave young prince

named Ibrahim, a near relative of the sultan, with whom he was a great
favourite, and he was ever in the front line of the assailants, his splendid

bravery animating the soldiers to continue their efforts. As the daylight
broadened out, however, the light enabled the Christian gunners to aim with
far greater accuracy than had before been possible, and, concentrating their

fire upon the bridge, across which reinforcements continued to press to the
support of the assailants, they succeeded in sinking so many of the boats

that it was no longer passable.

Next they turned their fire upon the Turkish galleys, four of which they

sank. Shortly afterwards, a ball struck the gallant young leader of the Turks,
who, although previously several times wounded, had continued to fight in

the front line. He fell dead, and his followers, disheartened by his fall and
by the destruction of the bridge, at once abandoned their efforts, and rushed
down to the foot of the breach. The terrible scene enacted at the repulse of

the previous attack was now repeated. The concentrated fire of the guns of
the defenders carried destruction into the crowded mass. Some gained the

boats that still remained uninjured, and rowed for the opposite shore; the
greater number rushed into the water and strove to recross it either by
swimming or by the aid of the debris of the shattered boats. Their total loss

was greater even than that suffered by them in the first attack, between two
and three thousand being either killed or drowned, among them a number

of their best officers. The amount of spoil, in the form of rich jewels and
costly gold ornaments, found on the bodies of the dead piled on the breach,