Thus to keep the besiegers constantly in a state of alarm

Wcliko’s brother, Milutin, was the first to encounter the Turks ; who appeared near Xladowo, and attacked the peasants as they were busily engaged in carrying off their property into the mountains. Milutin dispersed the enemy; but, from inability to pursue them with his horsemen over the mountain paths, he did not succeed in recapturing all the booty and prisoners they had taken.

On hearing of this, AVeliko determined to scour the country whilst awaiting the enemy. He drove many thousand head of cattle into his citadel of Xegotin, and ventured as far as the gates of Widdin ; where lie was seen, on his Arabian steed, in the plain before the fortress. Xear Bukowtscha he put to flight the first Turkish troops which appeared on the Timok.

But when the Turks arrived, 18,000 strong, he was obliged to shut himself up in Xegotin. It was then his delight to make sallies, day after day, and night after night; and thus to keep the besiegers constantly in a state of alarm. Compared with the losses which he caused them, his own were trivial: though he lost better soldiers, and each diminution of his numbers could not but be seriously felt. At last both parties were obliged to solicit aid   the Turks, from the Grand Vizier; and AVeliko, from Kara George and the Senate.

The Turks were not long unassisted. Ketschep Aga, the Wallachian Prince Karadschia, and the Grand Vizier himself led on a reinforcement. They made their way under cover of the night, and by mining, nearer and nearer to the fortifications.

They battered down with their cannon one tower of Xegotin after another; and lastly the highest, which was the residence of Weliko himself. Still he lost not his courage ; but went down and lived in the vault. Every thing, of lead or tin, which could be found in the place, he melted into balls; not excepting even spoons and lamps ; and one day, wlicn all metal else was exhausted, lie ordered his men to load their guns with pieces of money instead of bullets, and thus successfully kept off the enemy.

If lie could but have received assistance! On receiving AYeliko’s request for aid, Kara George, whose corps of reserve had never been brought into a state of efficiency, sent to Alladen. But Mladcn’s answer was:   “ He may help himself! If is praise is sung to him, at his table, by ten singers; mine is not: let him then keep his ground   the hero!The Senate   to whom AYeliko had written, in the most severe terms, saying that, “at Christmas he would inquire in what manner the country was governed! ”   at length sent a vessel to him with ammunition : but it arrived too late.