CHAP. H.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

67

two fingers long, placed in such a way towards thehead of the pike, that its flames are nearly as effec-tive as the trumps; and it finishes by firing two smallcylinders of iron or brass, loaded with very finegunpowder, and exploding leaden bullets like thoseof a harquebuss. Other execrable utensils of thesort are omitted for brevity; seek them who will inmy authorities.

On rush the Turks and Delhis with their atro-cious howl, unchained demons. The defence how-ever was as intrepid! The noise was heard inBorgo, whence also men saw (or thought theysaw) the assault and glorious resistance. Perhapsan attack more obstinate has never been read of.Thirty of the most noted warriors of Islam, rashbarbarians, who had bound themselves by asolemn compact to penetrate into the fortress t hisday, or die together in the attempt; they advancedmost brilliantly during the hottest of the conflict,which the grand master observing (as he couldvery well from the top of St. Angelo), and thatthey were close on storming the corner of thecavalier defended by Colonel Mas, had two piecesof heavy artillery brought to bear on them; thefirst of which, instead of good did us harm, forthe gunner, keeping a little too much to the right,killed not only some of the enemy, but likewise

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