“This represents but part of our loss,” the Turkish commander said sadly, as the last party came down with their burdens to the boats.  “At least as many more must have perished in the sea, either in their endeavours to escape when all was lost, in the destruction of their vessels by fire, by the shot from your batteries, or by being run down by your galleys.  Ah, Sir Knight, if it had not been for the appearance of your fire ships, methinks the matter might have ended differently.”

“In that I altogether agree with you,” Caretto said.  “We were indeed, well nigh spent, and must have soon succumbed had it not been that the fire ships arrived to our rescue.  You have a fair right to claim that the victory would have remained in your hands, had not those craft gone out and snatched it from you.”

Then, with salutes on both sides, the Turks took their places in the boats, and the knights returned to the fort.  As soon as darkness came on, a large body of slaves were marched down from the town, and, under the direction of the knights, laboured all night at the mound, removing great quantities of the fallen stones and rubbish in a line halfway up it, and piling them above so as to form a scarp across the mound that would need ladders to ascend.  Another party worked at the top of the mound, and there built up a wall eight feet high.  The work was completed by daylight, and the knights felt that they were now in a position to resist another attack, should Paleologus again send his troops to the assault.

The night had passed quietly.  There was a sound of stir and movement in the Turkish battery, but nothing that would excite the suspicion of a large body of troops being in motion.  When it became light it was seen that the Turkish ships had sailed away to their previous anchorage on the other side of the Island, and although at considerable intervals the great cannon hurled their missiles against the fort, it was evident that, for the time at least, the attack was not to be pressed at that point.  A fresh body of slaves, however, came down from the town to relieve those who had been all night at work, and the repair of the defences was continued, and with greater neatness and method than had been possible in the darkness.

At eight o’clock the bells of St. John’s Church gave notice that a solemn service of thanksgiving for the repulse of the enemy was about to be held.  Notice had been sent down early to the tower; and all the knights who could be spared, without too greatly weakening the garrison, went up to attend it; the service was conducted with all the pomp and ceremony possible, and after it was over a great procession was formed to proceed to the shrine, where a picture of the Virgin held in special reverence by the Order was placed.