ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

71

CHAP. II.]

fresh succours. 3. The interference from fortSt. Angelo; their engineers went with Mustaphaand Dragut to review the situation, where it wasdetermined how to prevent that gun from havingeffect; how to keep off succours by land or sea;how to screen out St. Angelo’s fire; and to makea drawing of such devices. But while about it,was shot a cannon ball, which striking a rock, oneof the splinters flew through Dragut’s enormousturban ; and though he was carried off to the com-mander-in-chief s tent, the famous corsair expired—to Christendom’s great comfort. 1

Another splinter killed the aga standing byMustapha; who did not however stir until thedrawing was finished. And then likewise was itdetermined to execute what truly was the im-mediate cause of St. Elmo’s final ruin—a coveredway by which the Moslem could advance unseen asfar as even the wall they had to storm.

And behold! on the 19th of that same month,the covered way was finished completely and in fulluse. Yet prior to that a small cannon from the topof St. Elmo killed the head master of the Turkishartillery, which made them add to their battery; sothat St. Elmo was now under the fire of thirty-

1

Bosio : par. iii. 565.