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o that； being visible in the starlight； the sentinels placed to watch on the hostile towers might take his men for the Suliots and report to Ali that the position of Saint…Nicolas； assigned to them； had been occupied as arranged。 All preparations for battle were made； and the two mortal enemies； Ismail and Ali； retired to rest； each cherishing the darling hope of shortly annihilating his rival。
At break of day a lively cannonade； proceeding from the castle of the lake and from Lithoritza； announced that the besieged intended a sortie。 Soon Ali's Skipetars； preceded by a detachment of French； Italians； and Swiss； rushed through the Ottoman fire and carried the first redoubt； held by Ibrahim…Aga…Stamboul。 They found six pieces of cannon； which the Turks； notwithstanding their terror； had had time to spike。 This misadventure； for they had hoped to turn the artillery against the intrenched camp； decided Ali's men on attacking the second redoubt； commanded by the chief bombardier。 The Asiatic troops of Baltadgi Pacha rushed to its defence。 At their head appeared the chief Imaun of the army； mounted on a richly caparisoned mule and repeating the curse fulminated by the mufti against Ali； his adherents； his castles； and even his cannons； which it was supposed might be rendered harmless by these adjurations。 Ali's Mohammedan Skipetars averted their eyes； and spat into their bosoms； hoping thus to escape the evil influence。 A superstitious terror was beginning to spread among them； when a French adventurer took aim at the Imaun and brought him down； amid the acclamations of the soldiers； whereupon the Asiatics； imagining that Eblis himself fought against them； retired within the intrenchments； whither the Skipetars； no longer fearing the curse； pursued them vigorously。
At the same time； however； a very different action was proceeding at the northern end of the besiegers' intrenchments。 Ali left his castle of the lake； preceded by twelve torch…bearers carrying braziers filled with lighted pitch…wood； and advanced towards the shore of Saint…Nicolas； expecting to unite with the Suliots。 He stopped in the middle of the ruins to wait for sunrise； and while there heard that his troops had carried the battery of Ibrahim…Aga…Stamboul。 Overjoyed； he ordered them to press on to the second intrenchment； promising that in an hour； when he should have been joined by the Suliots； he would support them； and he then pushed forward； preceded by two field…pieces with their waggons； and followed by fifteen hundred men； as far as a large plateau on which he perceived at a little distance an encampment which he supposed to be that of the Suliots。 He then ordered the Mirdite prince； Kyr Lekos； to advance with an escort of twenty…five men； and when within hearing distance to wave a blue flag and call out the password。 An Imperial officer replied with the countersign 〃flouri；〃 and Lekos immediately sent back word to Ali to advance。 His orderly hastened back； and the prince entered the camp； where he and his escort were immediately surrounded and slain。
On receiving the message； Ali began to advance； but cautiously； being uneasy at seeing no signs of the Mirdite troop。 Suddenly； furious cries； and a lively fusillade； proceeding from the vineyards and thickets； announced that he had fallen into a trap；： and at the same moment Omar Pacha fell upon his advance guard； which broke； crying 〃Treason！〃。
Ali sabred the fugitives mercilessly； but fear carried them away； and； forced to follow the crowd； he perceived the Kersales and Baltadgi Pacha descending the side of Mount Paktoras； intending to cut off his retreat。 He attempted another route； hastening towards the road to Dgeleva； but found it held by the Tapagetae under the Bimbashi Aslon of Argyro…Castron。 He was surrounded； all seemed lost； and feeling that his last hour had come； he thought only of selling his life as dearly as possible。 Collecting his bravest soldiers round him； he prepared for a last rush on Omar Pacha； when； suddenly； with an inspiration born of despair； he ordered his ammunition waggons to be blown up。 The Kersales； who were about to seize them； vanished in the explosion； which scattered a hail of stones and debris far and wide。 Under cover of the smoke and general confusion； Ali succeeded in withdrawing his men to the shelter of the guns of his castle of Litharitza； where he continued the fight in order to give time to the fugitives to rally； and to give the support he had promised to those fighting on the other slope； who； in the meantime； had carried the second battery and were attacking the fortified camp。 Here the Seraskier Ismail met them with a resistance so well managed； that he was able to conceal the attack he was preparing to make on their rear。 Ali； guessing that the object of Ismail's manoeuvres was to crush those whom he had promised to help； and unable； on account of the distance； either to support or to warn them； endeavoured to impede Omar Pasha； hoping still that his Skipetars might either see or hear him。 He encouraged the fugitives； who recognised him from afar by his scarlet dolman； by the dazzling whiteness of his horse； and by the terrible cries which he uttered； for； in the heat of battle； this extraordinary man appeared to have regained the vigour and audacity； of his youth。 Twenty times he led his soldiers to the charge； and as often was forced to recoil towards his castles。 He brought up his reserves； but in vain。 Fate had declared against him。 His troops which were attacking the intrenched camp found themselves taken between two fires； and he could not help them。 Foaming with passion； he threatened to rush singly into the midst of his enemies。 His officers besought him to calm himself； and； receiving only refusals； at last threatened to lay hands upon him if he persisted in exposing himself like a private soldier。 Subdued by this unaccustomed opposition； Ali allowed himself to be forced back into the castle by the lake； while his soldiers dispersed in various directions。
But even this defeat did not discourage the fierce pasha。 Reduced to extremity； he yet entertained the hope of shaking the Ottoman Empire； and from the recesses of his fortress he agitated the whole of Greece。 The insurrection which he had stirred up； without foreseeing what the results might be； was spreading with the rapidity of a lighted train of powder； and the Mohammedans were beginning to tremble； when at length Kursheed Pasha； having crossed the Pindus at the head of an army of eighty thousand men； arrived before Janina。
His tent had hardly been pitched； when Ali caused a salute of twenty…one guns to be fired in his honour； and sent a messenger； bearing a letter of congratulation on his safe arrival。 This letter； artful and insinuating； was calculated to make a deep impression on Kursheed。 Ali wrote that； being driven by the infamous lies of a former servant； called Pacho Bey； into resisting； not indeed the authority of the sultan； before whom he humbly bent his head weighed down with years and grief； but the perfidious plots of His Highness's advisers； he considered himself happy in his misfortunes to have dealings with a vizier noted for his l