ot a
ration of provisions left and could easily be starved into utter
submission, had acceded to their terms. It was agreed that they were to
be allowed to surrender with all the honours of war. Bearing their arms
and all their property, they were to pass unmolested into the Turkish
camp on the hills. Karaiskakes must be blamed for this excess of
generosity; but, to his credit be it stated, that, having agreed to the
capitulation, he took all reasonable care to have it honourably
observed. Along the road leading from the gate of the convent to the
fortifications on the hills he ranged soldiers on either side, in order
that the Turks might be protected from the crowd of less disciplined
soldiers. All looked well as the two hundred and seventy men, women, and
children who had been locked within the shattered building passed out of
it and began their march. But no sooner was the convent evacuated than a
swarm of Greeks rushed into it, each hoping to seize the largest share
of the booty which they expected to find. They found nothing, and then
angrily rushed out again to inform their comrades of their
disappointment.

Lord Cochrane watched their proceedings from the deck of the _Unicorn_,
General Gordon and Mr. Finlay, who was then serving as a volunteer on
Gordon's staff, being by his side. "All those men will be murdered!"
exclaimed Mr. Finlay, pointing to the retreating Turks. Lord Cochrane,
not yet initiated in all the depths of Greek treachery, turned in horror
to General Gordon and said, "Do you hear what he says?" "My lord,"
answered Gordon, "I fear it is too true."[5]

[5] Finlay, vol. ii., p. 148.

And so it proved. A Greek soldier, pushing through the guard, snatched
at the sword of one of the Turks passing along the line. The Turk
resisted, and a scuffle followed. Two or three other Turks raised their
muskets and fired. A score of Greeks at once retaliated. A shadow of an
excuse was thus afforded to the Christians for wreaking vengeance for
all the ills they had endured from the enemy, and for giving vent to
their anger at finding no prizes in the deserted convent. A horrible
massacre ensued. Two hundred or more Turks were murdered. Less than
seventy escaped. "Forgive me, as I forgive you," shouted Karaiskakes to
the Moslems, after vainly trying to stay the slaughter; "I can do
nothing more for you."

"Islanders," wrote Lord Cochrane, in a proclamation to his Hydriot
force, "I was no party to the capitulat