direction diligent hands were fostering the flames; while, far from losing ground, Contari and Justiniani seemed advancing, and the Janissaries by no means maintained their usual reputation. The other galleys, meanwhile, though outmatched by tenfold odds, steered boldly into the very midst of the Turkish fleet; and a brigantine of the infidels was soon wrapped in a sheet of flame.

Mahomet, meanwhile, seeing that there was great risk of his armament, so painfully conveyed into harbour, utterly perishing, gave orders to Calil Pasha, whom he had retained by his side, that the artillery should be brought to bear upon the mole. The astonished Pasha threw himself on his knees.

"My Lord Sultan," cried he, "we shall hurt our own troops as much as those of the infidels, or more."

"I know it," replied Mahomet: "but we shall save the mole."

"I will pray your Highness," pleaded the Pasha, "to suspend this order but for a few moments: it will not then be too late, and we shall avoid the horrible carnage, and save many a brave man who will render your Majesty good service another day."

"Five minutes be it, then," said Mahomet, "but not a second more," and with that respite Calil was forced to content himself.

Leontius, finding that the infidels were losing ground, and giving up his life for lost, was a third time, in the courage of despair, advancing and rallying his men, when he was singled out by Contari.

"I will have that man's life, or perish," said he to Burstow, by whom he found himself in the melée. And he attacked him with an impetuosity that showed him to be more eager for the traitor's destruction, than for his own preservation. Leontius, himself no contemptible

swordsman, was totally confounded by the shower of blows rained down on him in every direction: yet even from the very vehemence of the attack he might have been better able to defend himself, had not the prediction of the astrologer weighed down all his hopes. Step by step he retired,―guarding himself, however, with great skill and caution, till on the very edge of the mole; and there he was forced to stand at bay for the crowd of soldiers behind, presented an impenetrable mass; and though he would fain have mingled among them, the confusion of the whole scene, and the impetuosity of Contari's attack, rendered it impossible. On the very edge, then, he stood, perilously confronting the Varangian, when, just at the moment that the strife was hottest between them, the flaming brigantine drifted beneath, and the blaze played round and scorched the combatants on the pier. Remembering then Baltazar's warning, and seeing no other hope, Leontius threw away his sword, and, by a dexterous movement, clasped Contari round the body, and endeavoured to drag him over the side. But the wretched man was no match in strength for his adversary. The Varangian raised him from the ground, and, in spite of his struggles and cries, forced him to the very edge. Here, with the energy of despair, the brigantine glowing and crackling below him, he clutched at a post that was fixed there for the purpose of making a galley fast to,-missed it,-caught the chain that was fastened to it, and at the same moment was hurled by Contari over the side. Still he hung by the chain, suspended over the brigantine: the Varangian raised his sword to cut at the apostate's hands, and force him to relax his hold,-his burning grave yawning for him beneath.

At that moment, Baltazar was afterwards wont to say, the fatal period passed. Baltha Ogli, at the very in

stant Contari's arm was raised, struck him on the head with the tremendous spiked mace which was his favourite weapon. Helmet and skull crashed together; and, plunging like a diver, Contari fell head foremost into the burning vessel,―sending up a shower of sparks as he came on the glowing timbers, and then disappearing.

"Your

"Hold fast! hold fast!" shouted Baltha Ogli. other hand, my lord. So!-Ahmed, a hand here!—that is well!" And Leontius, half suffocated with the smoke and heat, was drawn up, and again stood in comparative safety.

At the same moment, a message arrived from Calil Pasha, that if the Infidels were not at once repulsed, the Turkish cannon would sweep the pile, indiscriminate of friend or foe. Such tidings roused the Janissaries to the utmost; and almost at the same second, a blaze rose from the ill-fated Unicorn.

'Burstow," said Justiniani, "there is no time to be lost. Get the men together, and retreat in as good order as you may. Where is De Rushton ?”

off,

"In the Unicorn, I think, my lord. I will keep them while you embark."

De Rushton had, indeed, hurried into the galley as soon as it had caught fire, for the purpose of getting it off from the mole, and preventing the spread of the conflagration. Then there was a scene of the wildest uproar. The terrified sailors were pushing the burning vessel from the mole; the Bucentaur was pressing into the place that the Unicorn had occupied; the Janissaries pouring forward, and driving the Christians back foot by foot, in spite of Burstow's most vigorous resistance; the other Genoese galleys closed in upon by the whole Turkish fleet; shouts and outcries,-commands and inquiries every now and then a heavy plunge into the sea; wretches

supporting themselves by clinging to the mole, or to the sides of the vessels, and crying piteously to be taken in ; shrieks from the scorching or burning; clashing of weapons; ejaculations of despair, or shouts of victory.

The ramparts on the east side of Constantinople were crowded with spectators: for the conflagration made the general outline of objects perfectly clear. The Emperor was there in person: so was Phranza, and Lucas Notaras. It had long been seen that a surprise was out of the question, and great had been the wonder that, nevertheless, the conflict should have been continued. Intense was the anxiety, as blaze after blaze shot up into the sky, to know whence it sprung,-whether from the mole; whether from the Christian or from the Turkish galleys. Gradually it became evident that the attack was being beaten off; a huge vessel floated burning on the Horn, which some of the old seamen who had been summoned by Constantine to come nearer, declared to be the Unicorn. Then another seemed equally abandoned; till at length four galleys stood across the Horn: evidently the poor remains of the Grecian fleet. Long and anxious was the gaze for their companions: on they came, under press of sail, followed by six or seven of the Turkish brigantines, but crowding all sail, as if for escape, and bearing up for Port S. Peter. Thither rode the Emperor, followed by his attendants, and the other nobles.

Now again we change the scene.

A lofty, spacious apartment, panelled in cedar, arabesqued with gold,-the floor soft with Smyrniote carpets, -the ceiling painted, in the Byzantine fashion. One silver lamp, fed with sweet oil of Orfa, made a pleasant, dim light, that fell softly on the silken hangings and golden fringes of the stately bed. Shutters of cedar ex

cluded light and sound; heavy curtains of velvet fell over

them; and, in that besieged city, the room was as still, as perfectly hushed, as if it had been placed in the middle of a wilderness.

Long had Theodora in vain endeavoured to sleep. Long had she wearied herself in fancying-for she could not hear-shouts and outcries, and the distant tumult of the battle. She had heard the great church thunder out its summons for the midnight service; she had watched till the mesorion, or midway prayers, were chanted, one hour and a half after: but then anxiety, and grief, and weariness, had their natural effect, and she slept as calmly and peacefully as an infant.

Towards four o'clock, there was a step on the stairs,a kind of bustle in the House,-a hand on the latch of the door,-and De Rushton entered, worn-out, dejected, spiritless. Quietly, however, he entered, and listened if Theodora were awake; then, gently drawing aside the curtain, he leant over her, watching for several minutes the quiet beauty of her sleep.

Yes, I will wake her," said he, at length, as if he had been debating the point with himself; "who knows how many days more we may have together ?" He took the small fair hand that lay on the coverlid, and raised it to his lips, and Theodora woke.

"Oh, Edward," she exclaimed, "thank GOD that you are safely here again! But how miserably fatigued you look! What has happened? Is there aught the matter ?"

"We have been defeated at all points," replied De Rushton. "Never was failure greater. Some traitor had revealed the scheme, and they were prepared for us.”

"But are you quite safe yourself? Are you sure that you are not hurt ?"

"Not in the least, dearest one, not in the least: but it has been a dreadful night. Seven of our galleys out of