Page 361 - A Knight of the White Cross

the alarm was given in the town, the Turkish standard was waving on the
parapet, and the Moslems were crowding on to the wall in vast numbers.

The suddenness of the attack, the complete surprise, the sound of battle at
various points around the walls, caused for a time confusion and dismay

among the knights charged with the defence of the wall facing the breach.
Roused by the uproar, the inhabitants of the town rushed up to their roofs to
ascertain what was happening, and their cries of wild terror and alarm at

seeing the Turkish banner on the walls added to the confusion. D'Aubusson
sprang up from the couch, on which he had thrown himself in full armour,

at the first sound of the alarm, and, sending off messages to all the auberges
to summon every man to the defence, ran down into the town, followed by
a small party of knights.

Rushing through the streets, now filled with half dressed people wild with

terror, he reached the foot of the wall, whose summit was crowded with the
enemy, and saw in an instant that all was lost unless they could be driven
thence without delay. The effect of his presence was instantaneous. The

knights, hitherto confused and dismayed, rallied at once, and prepared for
the desperate undertaking. The bank on the inside was almost

perpendicular, and those charged with its defence had used two or three
ladders for ascending to the rampart. These were at once seized and planted
against the wall.

The position of the contending parties was now reversed; the Christians

were the assailants, the Turks the defenders. D'Aubusson himself was the
first to ascend. Covering his head with his shield, he mounted the rampart;
but ere he could gain a footing on the top he was severely wounded and

hurled backwards. Again he made the attempt, but was again wounded and
thrown down. Once more he mounted, and this time made good his footing.

A moment later, Gervaise, who had accompanied him from the palace,
stood beside him. Animated with the same spirit as his leader, he threw
himself recklessly against the Turks, using a short, heavy mace, which in a

melee was far more useful than the long sword. Scimitars clashed upon his
helmet and armour; but at every blow he struck a Turk fell, and for each

foot he gained a knight sprang on to the wall and joined him. Each moment
their number increased, and the war cry of the Order rose louder and fiercer