ning of October 7th every ship, every man was ready for battle.

The sun appeared, and from the Spanish ships musical bell-notes rose
towards heaven, blending with the echoing chant: "Allahu akbar, allahu
akbar, allahu akbar," and the devout words: "There is no God save Allah,
and Mohammed is the prophet of Allah; to prayer!"

"To prayer!" The iron tongue of the bell uttered the summons, as well as
the resonant voice of the Muezzin, who to-day did not call the
worshippers to devotion from the top of a minaret, but from the masthead
of a ship. On both sides of the narrow seagate, thousands of Moslems and
Christians thought, hoped and believed, that the Omnipotent One heard
them.

The bells and chanting died away, and a swift galley with Don Juan on
board, moved from ship to ship. The young hero, holding a crucifix in his
hand, shouted encouraging words to the Christian soldiers.

The blare of trumpets, roll of drums, and shouts of command echoed from
the rocky shores.

The armada moved forward, the admiral's galley, with Don Juan, at its
head.

The Turkish fleet advanced to meet it.

The young lion no longer asked the wise counsel of the experienced
admiral. He desired nothing, thought of nothing, issued no orders, except
"forward," "attack," "board," "kill," "sink," "destroy!"

The hostile fleets clashed into the fight as bulls, bellowing sullenly,
rush upon each other with lowered heads and bloodshot eyes.

Who, on this day of vengeance, thought of Marco Antonio Colonna's plan of
battle, or the wise counsels of Doria, Venieri, Giustiniani?

Not the clear brain and keen eye--but manly courage and strength would
turn the scale to-day. Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma, had joined his
young uncle a short time before, and now commanded a squadron of Genoese
ships in the front. He was to keep back till Doria ordered him to enter
the battle. But Don Juan had already boarded the vessel commanded by the
Turkish admiral, scaled the deck, and with a heavy sword-stroke felled
Kapudan Pacha. Alexander witnessed the scene, his impetuous, heroic
courage bore him on, and he too ordered: "Forward!"

What was the huge ship he was approaching? The silver crescent decked its
scarlet pennon, rows of cannon poured destruction from its sides, and its
lofty deck was doubly defended by bearded wearers of the turban.

It was the treasure-galley of the Ottoman fleet. It would be a gallant
achievement could the prince vanquish this