"Do you mean," inquired Leontius, in a trembling voice," that it is absolutely fated I shall perish this night ?"

"The time of no man's death is absolutely fated," replied Baltazar. "It is foreknown by Allah, but not foredecreed by Him. In all men's lives are certain times of danger,—some of greater, some of less: any one of these may be avoided; some one, it is morally certain, cannot be. Were you to live five hundred years, I could still tell you the epochs of danger that would beset you : but hardly can you have one worse than this.”

"Is there no means of guarding against it ?" said Leontius.

"I will read you what I can," replied the astrologer, "and you may be able to draw inferences which I cannot. Mars in perigee, and in the corner house,—whereby his influence is tripled: it will be in open strife. Corradiate with him is Sol: but then he, again, is confronted by Saturn. Your danger is also from fire. And then Venus is opposed to you,-now entering the quartile. I see that some time agone Saturn was lord of the ascendant: but then he was held in check by Venus; now she also is against you."

"What, then, would you have me to do ?"

By no means stir out to-night. Jupiter is powerless; there is not one star that can render you service. As you value your life, stir not out to-night."

As he spoke, an eunuch entered. "Lord Leontius," said he, "the Sultan desires your instant attendance." "I will come at once," replied Leontius. "Go on before—I will follow instantly. There, good Baltazar, it is not in my power to act by your advice."

"The evil influences of the stars are even now commencing," said the astrologer. "Mars will be in his pe

rigee in one hour and ten minutes from this time. If y you survive that period, let this be your comfort: I see a long course of honour, and glory, and wealth before you. Now go: but I would be well armed. Avoid strife, as far as you can; but above all things, avoid fire."

Leontius hastily armed himself; and on arriving at the Sultan's tent, found several of the Pashas assembled in council. Mahomet himself was standing at the head of the table, and had been speaking loudly and hurriedly. "By the Prophet, Lord Leontius, I thought you would We have intelligence that they intend an attack on the mole to-night. You have so well acquitted yourself of your charge in the transport of the galleys, that we intend to give the conduct of the defence to yourself and Achmet Pasha."

never come.

Leontius knelt, and thanked the Sultan, cursing in his own heart the fate which thus led him into open strife when he was most anxious to avoid it. However, it was less dangerous to accept than to refuse the trust; and gathering courage from despair, the traitor received his instructions, and then hastened to join Achmet, who had gone before, at the mole.

The council at Sir Edward de Rushton's metœcia, was short, but satisfactory; and within half an hour from its conclusion, the various noblemen and officers who had assisted at it were on board their respective galleys. Phranza, indeed, and the Great Logothete, Lucas Notaras, by the Emperor's express commands, took no part in the actual operations. He had quoted the line of Hesiod"Let men in council, youth in arms engage: Prayer is the proper duty of old age ;'.

and had represented to them that, while a thousand could fight better, none could counsel so well. It was a sad parting, too, between De Rushton and Theodora : but on

these things we must not dwell. We are rapidly ap proaching that period of the city's history, when private joys and griefs seem of infinitely small importance. Even now, the last assault was preparing; the engineers were at work on their last implements of mischief; the end was drawing very near. For the last time the brave defenders of the Roman Empire acted on the offensive.

Justiniani, who, in virtue of the allies he had brought to the succour of the Emperor, took the lead of the expedition, chose the Unicorn as his vessel. De Rushton, as second in command, made choice of the Bucentaur; while Gabriel Notaras claimed the third place, and selected the S. Irene. Faithful to his promise, De Rushton procured Contari leave to serve on board the Unicorn,—Burstow was with him also. The other vessels, seven in number, were commanded by the Curopalata, the Great Drungaire, Galeotti, and other noblemen; while Choniates, in virtue of his acquaintance with maritime affairs, was allowed the command of the single brigantine that attended on the larger vessels.

It was about an hour before midnight that the Unicorn, under easy sail, led the way up the Horn. The strictest silence was enjoined and observed, and the ripple round the bows was the only sound that could have given an enemy warning of his danger. How Mahomet received intelligence of the surprise intended; was never known: but it had reached him early enough in the evening to enable him to be fully on his guard. His galleys were manned; the mole defended with a picked body of Janissaries; and a strong reserve posted in the archery ground, to act as necessity should require. He himself, though not intending to take any actual part in the contest, was near the mole, to animate the combaters with his presence, if need should so require.

And now, to all outward appearance, Contari was himself again. He had received his directions; he had ten Varangians under his special command; and his particular office was, if possible, to fire the mole. To this end, every one of his men was provided with a kettle of hot pitch, and a quick match twisted round his short pike: a party of native troops were to defend these, and, in their turn, were equipped with axes, chisels, and mallets, for the purpose of destroying, if they could not burn the mole.

"They seem quite quiet," said Justiniani, in a low voice, to Contari, by whom he was standing.

"Rather too quiet to please me," answered Contari. "I do not see one sentinel's fire all along the Horn: there are none of the usual signs that a great army is there. It looks suspicious."

Why, what should you suspect ?" asked the Genoese commander. "It is absolutely impossible that Mahomet can have received intelligence of our design."

"Without treachery, it is," replied Contari: "only secure us against that, and we shall succeed to-night." "We shall soon know," answered Justiniani. tain, we will board from the larboard side."

66

Cap

"We are only concerned with the mole," said the Genoese, as you know. The other galleys must take the fleet. They will pass us. Are the grappling-irons ready ?" "Ay, ay, sir," replied one of the officers.

"Be sure to cast off when I give the word," said the other. Contari, get the men to the gangway. Do you make it out well, Captain ?"

"Tolerably well," he replied, at the same time taking the helm. "We shall be abreast of it in a minute."

The grappling-irons were out; the dark lanthorns pro

:

vided; the combustibles in readiness; the Greek-fire prepared it waited only for the signal. In another moment, creeping gently up to the mole, and giving no further sign of touching it than by the creaking of her ribs, the Unicorn was abreast of it; and Contari, leaping lightly out, made fast the first grappling-iron, while the Varangians and other soldiers swarmed over the sides of the vessel like bees, on to the pier.

In an instant there was a blaze; and almost simultaneously, from mole, galleys, and shore, burst the shout of "La illah, illa Allah!" echoed from a hundred thousand voices. Lights ran up in every direction on the Turkish galleys; fires, one after another, kindled along shore; and five minutes had not elapsed, when it became evident that the whole scheme was known, and that the combat would be carried on not in darkness, but in artificial daylight.

Keep them back! keep them back only for five minutes!" cried Contari, leaping forward into the very centre of the body of Janissaries who were pouring forward to extinguish the fire. Nor was the combat so unequal as it seemed. The mole was narrow: the Christians could, therefore, meet their enemies with an equal front; fresh troops were poured forth from the Unicorn, while De Rushton, seeing the hopelessness of surprising the galleys, ran the Buçentaur alongside of the other ship, and hurried forward his own men over her deck to hold the mole till it should be set on fire. At that first onset, the Varangians had driven the Janissaries beyond the great cannon: if that part of the pier, therefore, could only be kindled, the immense piece of ordnance must be lost. Pitch, grease, and turpentine were dashed over the boards, and into the casks on which they rested; here and there the timbers were fairly alight; in every