“You have rendered us a great service indeed by your vigilance, and showed great prudence by allowing the Turk to believe that he had accomplished his mission unsuspected.  Had he thought he had been observed, some other plan would have been adopted.  For so great a service it is meet that a great reward should be given.”

He then took a bag from the hands of one of his secretaries, whom he had sent to fetch it, while they were discussing the matter of the fire ships.

“Here are two hundred golden crowns,” he added, handing the bag to the seaman.  “With these you can either settle on shore, or can build a stout ship and pursue your calling.  Should you do so, call her the St. Nicholas, in remembrance of the gratitude of the Order of St. John for your having saved that fort from the Turks.”

Astonished and delighted at the reward, which represented a very large sum in those days, the sailor stammered his thanks, and added, “I hope tonight that if I again have charge of a fire ship, I may be able to do more to prove to your Highness how grateful I am for the gift.”

Throughout the day preparations for the defence of St. Nicholas went on unceasingly.  Gangs of men, as usual, worked in the breach; but, as it was deemed advisable that there should be no outward show of activity that would lead the Turks to suspect that their design had been discovered, neither reinforcements of men nor munitions were sent along the mole; everything being taken out by boats, which, rowing closely along under the wall, were hidden from the view of the Turks.  Barrels of Greek fire and pitch, cauldrons for heating the latter, a store of firewood, great balls of cotton steeped in oil and turpentine, sheaves of darts, spikes on short staves, that were, after darkness fell, to be thrust in among the fallen masonry to form a chevaux-de-frise —­ these, and all other matters that the ingenuity of the defenders could suggest, were landed at the water gate of the fort, while the garrison was strengthened by the addition of a large number of knights.  Stores of ammunition were collected in readiness at all the batteries that commanded the mouth of the outer port, and by sunset D’Aubusson felt that everything that was possible had been done to meet the impending storm.

At midnight the Turkish preparations were complete.  The attack by the bridge was to be assisted by a large number of boats and other craft, and many armed galleys were also brought up to destroy or tow away the defenders’ fire ships.  Paleologus himself was down by the shore directing the preparations.  Some of his best troops were placed upon the floating bridge, and, when all was ready, the order was given to pull upon the rope.  No sooner, however, did the strain come upon it than there was a jerk, the rope slackened, and it was at once evident that the anchor had been discovered and the well laid plan disconcerted.  Paleologus was furious, but, believing that the attack he had arranged would still be irresistible, he ordered a number of boats to take the bridge in tow, while a still larger force was to make a direct attack upon the breach.  The movement was to be conducted as silently as possible until it was discovered, and then a dash forward was to be made.