Washington sentinel., 1854-01-04

the magnate, seconded by his hatred Of the
infdel enemy, would secure its adhesion to his
cause as long as human means could hold it.
On the I'd of July, in the same year, scant
time having been permitted to the Christians
to complete their defensive preparations,
Turkish force, five thousand strong, under the
command of Persaf Pasha, one of the brayest
generals of Solyman, sat down before Gynla,
where he was shortly joined by the Pasha OF
Temesvar, and the operations OF the siege were
forthwith commenced. For five days Keret-
senyi successfully defended the town, taking
rest neither night nor day, and snatching his
food at intervals, as he hurried from point to
point directing the operations; and for awhile
he affected to despise the horde of enemies who
clustered about the town like swarm of bees,
numbering ten to one of his own garrison, and
moreover free to come and go, and flushed
with score of successes; but his heart burnt
within him as the clashing of their cymbals and
the ringing beat of their metal drums swelled
on the air. while around their camp-fres he
heard the sound of laughter, and saw display
of feasting which seemed to defy the probable
exigencies of the Christian garrison but still
he dreamed of hushing that laughter in defeat,
and of turning their feasting into despair.
On the evening Of the fifth day, however, he
began to regard his position as desperate,
should he not receive snccor from without;
and of that he at once felt there was no hope.
Under cover Of the darkness he therefore threw
himself and his garrison into the castle, having
previously set fire to the town, which presently
became one mass Of fame. When the morning
dawned, a heap of smouldering ruins separated
the fortress of Hazarwar from the main camp
of the infdels and the brave band of belea-
guered Christians found themselves pent up in
this their last stronghold, the dungeon-keep OF
which lowered loftiy amid the surrounding
plain, with the banner of the cross raised high
upon its loftiest pinnacle.
For three long weeks they maintained their
perilous position, but their numbers were rap
idly thinning by famine and fatigue; and ere
long the main body of the building was so
thoroughly undermined by the Turks that
Keretsenyi reluctantly admitted it to be no
longer tenable and, as o last resource, he took
possession of the keep, into which he previously
removed the small residue of his ammunition
and provisions.
This keep-tower was separated from the body
of the fortress by natural chasm in the rock,
of sufficient width to form an unassailabe de-
fence, and of great depth while, on its three
other sides, the perpendicular character of the
rock rendered it impregnable The retreat
was effected without loss; but an attempt to
demolish the drawbridge which gave access to
the tower was frustrated by the besiegers, who
threw up rampant before it, and thence main
tanned a constant and heavy fire, which effec-
tually prevented its destruction.
Strong, nevertheless, in their knowledge of
the soldity Of their fortress, which was an an
cient erection of the Romans, of immensely
the courage Of desperation, the Christians
fought like lions; nor was it until the Turks
succeeded in cutting off the only spring which
supplied the tower, and the little garrison con-
sequently began to suffer severely from want
of water, that they utterly despaired but even
then, so resolute were they not to abandon
their position while human power could hold it,
that they took solemn oath to keep the castle,
in spite Of thirst and hunger, while one man
remained alive to hurl defiance at the besiegers
In vain did Persaf Pasha summon the
Christian leader to surrender; Keretsenyi an
swered only by taunts and insult; and, wearied
at length by the pertinacity of his opponent,
who ike the savage hunted to his den, only
roared the louder because hopeless of escape,
the Moslem leader erected a wooden tower in
front of the keep, and strove to take it by as
sault. The effort was unfortunate for he was
fercely and effectually repulsed by the Imperial
soldiery, many Of his troops were killed, and
the Pasha of Temesvar was severely wounded
New hope inspired the Christians. The con-
fusion in the enemys camp convinced them
that some leader Of note had been disabled
and for time they fattered themselves that
Persaff Pasha himself was wounded, if not
slain; but they we're soon awakened from their
delusion, for, ere long, the pasha appeared
under the walls, mounted upon surperb black
charger, glittering with gold and Jewels, and
followed by train Of officers similarly accoutred.
Keretsenyi cursed him in his spirit as he passed |;
and with more bitter energy than before, urged
on his men to repair the breaches which had
been made in their ramparts during the last
attack. The pomp of the Pashas procession
through the camp had CALLED him to the quick.
He felt all the contrast with his own crippled
condition which it was intended to convey; /;
and when he had assured himself Of the rapid
completion of his orders, he withdrew to his
narrow and naked chamber at the summit of
the tower, and casting himself upon a seat he
leant his head upon a table before him, and
abandoned himself to a train of deep and pain
ful thought. ss.5
1t was not that he was sitting there, among
the ruins, Of what was once the prondest of his
possessions, amidst the wreck of a town which
had lately called him lord, and whose inhabit
ants were the tools of his will and the slaves
that the strong fortress which he had deemed
impregnable had threatened to fall upon his
head and crush him, and that the men-at-arms,
who had been as wall of brass about him, had
been stricken down like deer, that he felt his
heart burn with concentrated passion. 1t was
that all these evils were the work of the infdel
of the loathed, and despised, and insulted
Mosleml And then, as he gnashed his teeth,
and clenched his mailed hands in impotent
fury, the question arose in his spirit what was
to be the ultimate result? Keretsenyi was no
coward. He had proved his manhood in many
an hour of peril, nor would he now have shrunk
from brave death on fair fields but to be
pent up thusl--to end his career like rat
starved in trapl--to die Of hunger and thirst,
between four walls, like Gagged brigandl He
felt that he had not courage to brave such a
fate as this. To save the tower was impossible;
for it did not contain food enough to victual
the garrison, even diminished as it was, for
three days longer although they had. ever
since their retreat from the castle, dieted like
anchorites. Could he once more be free at any
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