CHAP. II.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

53

charge, let him be sent freely by all means; for itwill give me great satisfaction to resign, in respectof the order’s service; only allow me to remain herelikewise; for my. desire is to sacrifice my personfor Christendom. Feeling myself aged, I do notthink I could spend my few remaining days of lifeanywhere so well as where I am.” So the onlymagisterial resolution come to, was that in case ofhis death, Colonel Mas should succeed him; butthat so long as the valiant Bailiff lived, he shouldnot be superseded. The consequence was that hebecame more operose than ever, and took a handin everything, even the meanest offices. Often werehe and Broglia, somewhat his elder, seen to go sideby side to work at the repairs and carrying basketsof earth to encourage the others ; for necessary hadit become, they should all concur if they wished forthe least shelter from the enemy’s artillery, whicheat away by degrees every one of their defences. TheTurkish basilisks pierced through more than eighteenpalms of solid masonry. The insupportable fatiguesincreasing, chiefly the whole night, and the bury-ing in the parapets of bowels and limbs of menall torn to pieces and pounded by the hostile can-non, to such a pass had the hapless besieged beennow reduced; what with never stirring from theirposts, but sleeping there and eating; with all other