frica,
not without the hindrance of a storm, they beheld the city in the form
of a bow, reaching out its arms to the sea; high were its ramparts;
and a colossal tower, armed with stone-projectiles, guarded the
harbour. Nevertheless the Knights landed in good heart, after a cup of
Grecian or Malmsey wine, on the Vigil of Magdalen Day (July 22nd),
unopposed, and each great lord set up his pennon before his tent over
against the fortress, with the Genoese crossbows on the right. Here
they remained nine weeks. The Saracens never offered battle, but
harassed the enemy with their skirmishers, who fired their arrows,
then dropped down behind their targets of Cappadocian leather to avoid
the enemy's return volley; then, rising again, cast their javelins
with deadly aim. What was to be done? The Duke of Bourbon spent his
time in sitting crosslegged before his tent; the nobles and knights
had plenty of excellent wine and food; but it was very hot and
uncomfortable--the assault had failed--many had died--the Genoese
wanted to get their galleys back safe in port before the autumn gales
came on; so they packed up their baggage, and re-embarked, blowing
their horns and beating their drums for very joy.[40]

[Illustration: GREEK FIRE.

(_From a MS._)]

[Illustration: MEDIEVAL FIREARMS.

(_From a MS._)]

[Illustration: MEDIEVAL PROJECTILES.

(_From a MS._)]

This was the city which Dragut took without a blow in the spring of
1550. Mahd[=i]ya was then in an anarchic state, ruled by a council of
chiefs, each ready to betray the other, and none owing the smallest
allegiance to any king, least of all the despised king of Tunis,
Ham[=i]d, who had deposed and blinded his father Hasan, Charles V.'s
_protege_. One of these chiefs let Dragut and his merry men into the
city by night, and the inhabitants woke up to find "Africa" in the
possession of the bold Corsair whose red and white ensign, displaying
a blue crescent, floated from the battlements.

So easy a triumph roused the emulation of Christendom. Where the Duke
of Bourbon had failed, Dragut had conspicuously succeeded. Don Garcia
de Toledo dreamed of outshining the Corsair's glory. His father, the
Viceroy of Naples, the Pope, and others, promised their aid, and old
Andrea Doria took the command. After much delay and consultation a
large body of troops was conveyed to Mahd[=i]ya, and disembarked on
June 28, 1550. Dragut, though aware of the project, was at sea,
devastating the