Page 360 - A Knight of the White Cross

For some days the Turks observed, to their astonishment, that the road they
were constructing across the ditch was diminishing instead of increasing in

bulk, and at length it became so evident that the garrison were in some way
removing the materials, that the pasha determined to deliver the assault

before the heap was so far diminished as to become impassable. His former
defeats had, however, taught him that success could not be always
calculated upon, however good its prospect might appear; and although he

had no real hope that the defenders would yield, he sent a formal summons
for them to do so. This was refused with disdain, and preparations were at

once made for the assault.

The pasha promised to his soldiers the sack of the town and all the booty

captured, and so assured were they of success that sacks were made to carry
off the plunder. Stakes, on which the knights, when taken prisoners, were to

be impaled, were prepared and sharpened, and each soldier carried a coil of
rope with which to secure his captive.

Before ordering the assault, the way was prepared for it by a terrible fire
from every siege gun of the Turks. This was kept up for twenty-four hours,

and so tremendous was the effect that the knights were unable to remain on
the ramparts. The Turkish troops moved into position for attack, their
movements being covered by the roar of the guns, and soon after sunrise on

the 22nd of July the signal was given, and at a number of different points
the Turks rushed to the assault. All these attacks, save that on the breach,

were merely feints, to distract the attention of the garrison, and to add to the
confusion caused by this sudden and unexpected onslaught. The pasha's
plans were well designed and carried out; the knights, unable to keep their

places on the ramparts under the storm of missiles, had retired to shelter
behind the walls. There was no thought of an instant assault, as they

considered that this would not be delivered until the new wall behind the
breach had been demolished.

Consequently, the rush of the Turks found the defenders altogether
unprepared. Swarming across the mass of debris in the ditch, they ascended

the breach without opposition, and their scaling ladders were placed against
the new wall before the knights could hurry up to its defence. Even before