usily engaged
in clewing up the sails to the yards, and making all snug for the
conflict. The central banks were removed to make room for the
soldiers, and the slaves were served with meat and wine. Old seamen,
who had met the Turks again and again from their youth up, prepared
grimly for revenge; sanguine boys, who held arms in set fight for the
first time that day, looked forward eagerly to the moment of action.
Even to the last the incurable vacillation of the allied admirals was
felt: they suggested a council of war. Don John's reply was worthy of
him: "The time for councils is past," he said; "do not trouble
yourselves about aught but fighting." Then he entered his gig, and
went from galley to galley, passing under each stern, crucifix in
hand, encouraging the men. His calm and confident mien, and the charm
of his address, excited universal enthusiasm, and he was met on all
hands with the response: "Ready, Sir; and the sooner the better!" Then
Don John unfurled the Blessed Standard with the figure of the Saviour,
and falling on his knees commended his cause to God.

About eleven o'clock a dead calm set in. The Turks shortened sail and
took to their oars: in perfect order and with matchless speed and
precision they formed in line of battle, while drums and fifes
announced their high spirits. The Christian fleet was slower in
falling into line; some of the galleys and most of the galleasses were
behindhand. Don John let drop some pious oaths, and sent swift
vessels to hurry them up. At last they began to get into order.
Barbarigo, the "left guide," hugged the coast with the left wing; Don
John with the centre _corps de bataille_ kept touch with him; but
where was the "right guide"? Giovanni Doria, infected with the
tactical vanity of his family, resolved to show these landsmen how a
sailor can manoeuvre. Conceiving that Ochiali, on the Ottoman left,
was trying to outflank the Christian fleet, he bore out to sea in
order to turn him. In vain Don John sent to recall him; he had gone
out of reach, and the battle had to be fought without the right wing.
Doria's precious manoeuvring went near to losing the day.

The Ottoman fleet was marshalled in the same order as the Christian,
except that there were no galleasses. The line of battle, nearly a
mile long, was divided into centre, and right and left wing, and
behind the centre was the reserve. Mohammed Shaluk (called by
Europeans Scirocco) commanded the right wing, oppo