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THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book hi.

use too of another sort of horror—globes of fire,and fiery arrows thrown from the cross-bow orsent off whirling from catapultas, that the housesmay be set on fire. We on the other hand, whoseduty it was to save the city, chose consulters frompersons of the art, to remain most attentive; andthey, as soon as ever the incendiary matter fell,applied themselves with the fleetest caution to ex-tinguish the flames. By such remedies we wereable to preserve the Rhodians from many mishaps.Nor did not the infidel attempt to approach thecity underground; but with many zig-zag ditchescovered with earth and trees, to steal into the fossesof the city, wrought with deep occult art; anderected strongholds abundantly, and placed colu-brines , 1 upon them and serpentine cannon, fromwhich they kept up a continuous shooting to Avearyus out, and scatter our ranks; and likewise imaginedit was convenient for them to complete 2 that partof the ramparts that lies next the wall of the spur atthe salient angle. So brought a great heap of stones,and secretly threw doAvn others into the fosse, andcontinued doing it incessantly for several days, so

1 Sort of heavy artillery, throwing a ball of sixteen pounds.The serpentine cannons were hugely long; we are told of onefifty feet long. They threw a fire-ball that went waving andhissing.

2 To close : term of geometry.