Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/373

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

EMPEROE'S LAST VIEW OF THE CITY 333 they dismounted. They went up together into a tower from which, assuming it to be the one at the corner where the wall begins to descend towards the Golden Horn, which would be that most suitable for their purpose, they would have an uninterrupted view of the road and a considerable stretch of ground on both sides of it leading to the Adrianople or Chariseus Gate, while, looking in the other direction, they could see the outside of a large portion of the walls towards the Golden Horn and of the hill in front where the Crusaders had encamped in 1203 and near or upon which Caraja was at the head of the Bashi-bazouks. They heard the murmur of many voices and the noise of many preparations and were told by the guards that these sounds had continued during all the night and were caused by the transport of guns and other machines nearer to the ditch. 1 It was probably between one and two of the morning of the 29th when Phrantzes and his imperial master separated; and in all likelihood they never met again. it terminates on the north just beyond Tekfour Serai, and that which leads down the steep slope to the Golden Horn. 1 Phrantzes, p. 280.