d never be
pardoned.

The same night he sent for two gunners and ordered them not to lose
sight of Caretto for an instant, and if he attempted to escape to
shoot him down there and then.

Next day Caretto was unusually good-humored. Early in the morning he
went out upon the ramparts, which were then covered with freshly
fallen snow. The winter seemed to be pouring forth its last venom, and
the large flakes fell so thickly that one could not see twenty paces
in advance.

"This is just the weather for an assault," said Caretto in a loud
voice to the Turks standing around him; "in such wild weather one
cannot see the enemy till he stands beneath the very ramparts. I will
be so bold as to maintain that Kurshid's bands are likely to steal
upon us under cover of this thick snow-storm. I should like to fire a
random shot from the ramparts to let them know we are awake."

Many thought his anxiety just. Ali Pasha was also there, and he said
nothing either for or against the proposal.

Caretto hoisted a cannon to the level of the ramparts of Lithanizza
and fastened a long chain to the gun whereby his group of Albanians
could raise and lower it.

"Leave the chain upon it," said Caretto, "for we may have to turn it
in another direction."

Nevertheless it was in a good position already. Caretto calculated his
distances with his astrolabe, then pointed the gun and ordered it to
be loaded.

The two gunners whom Ali had set to watch him never took their eyes
off the Italian; both of them had loaded pistols in their hands.
Caretto did not seem to observe that they were watching him; he might
have thought that they were there to help him.

The gun had to be turned now to the right and now to the left.
Caretto himself took aim, but the clumsy Albanians kept on pushing the
heavy laffette either a little too much on this side or a little too
much on that, till at last he cried to the two watchers behind him:

"Just lend a hand and help these blockheads!" They stooped
mechanically to raise the laffette. "Enough!" cried the Italian, and
with that he put his hand on the touch-hole. "Now fire!" he cried to
the artilleryman, at the same time removing his hand.

The match descended, there was a thunderous report, and the same
instant Caretto seized the chain wound round the wheel of the cannon,
and, lowering himself from the ramparts, glided down the chain.

The watchers, with the double velocity of rage and fear, rushed to the
b