volume one

104 niSTOET OF THE CEUSJJ^ES.
tlieir valorous efforts, and the besieged "began to offer a less
animated resistance. As the Saracens received provisions
and reinforcements bv the Lake Ascanius, it was resolved
to cut off this last resource. A large number of boats,
furnished bv the Greeks, were transported bj land, and
launched into the water in the night-time. AVhen day
appeared, the lake was covered with barks, each bearing
the flags were displayed, and floated over
fifty combatants ;
the waters, and the lake and its shores resounded with the
various war-cries and the noise of the trumpets and drums.
At this sight the besieged were struck vrith. surprise and
terror ; and the Christians renewed theii' attacks with greater
success. The soldiers of Eavmond had undermined the
*
foundations of one of the principal towers of Nice. This
tower sank down in the middle of the night, and its fall
was accompanied by so frightful a noise, that both the
Christians and the ^Mussulmans were aroused from their
sleep, and believed that an earthquake had taken place. On
the followino: dav the wife of the sultan, with two infant
children, endeavoured to escape by the lake, and fell into
the hands of the Christians. AVhen the news of this reached
the city, it greatly increased the general consternation.
After a siege of seven weeks, the Mussulmans had lost all
hopes of defending Xice, and the Christians were expecting
every day to be able to take it by assault, when the policy
of Alexius intervened to deprive their arms of the honour of
a complete conquest^
This prince, who has been compared to the bird who seeks
his food in the tracks of the lion, had advanced as far as
Pelecania. He had sent to the army of the Crusaders a
weak detachment of Greek troops, and two generals intrusted
with his confidence, less for the purpose of fighting than to
negotiate, and seize an opportunity to get possession of
!Xice bv stratao^em. One of these ofilcers. named Butumitus,
ha\'ing got into the city, created in the inhabitants
a dread of the inexorable vengeance of the Latins, and
advised them to surrender to the emperor of Constantinople.
His propositions were listened to, and when the Crusaders
were preparing to begin a last assault, the standards of
Alexius all at once appeared upon the ramparts and towers
of Nice