The day after Mustapha had entered Askyfó, one of the captains of that section came to me to ask for counsel, saying that they were undecided whether to submit or fight, on account of their families; but, if the foreign ships were coming, as they had heard, they would attack Mustapha in Askyfó. I replied that I could in no wise counsel him, or make myself responsible for what they should do, but translated for him Mr. Seward's despatch, and told him that I expected daily a ship, and that as soon as she came she would go, in company with the Russian, to the coast of Sphakia, and relieve the families there. He returned to Askyfó, and a council was held, at which it was decided to attack Mustapha at once. The Pasha, warned by his spies, broke up his camp at midnight, and, when the Christians gathered at the head of the defile of Krapi at daybreak, they found the heights guarded and the rear-guard of the Turkish army already entering the ravine. The Christians were but six hundred men, but they attacked at once. The pass is not a simple gorge, but a precipitous pass, in some places divided by sub-ridges with only mule-paths, and in some passages very bad at that, the way being partially choked with boulders and overgrown with scrubby oaks, amongst which the Christians concealed themselves in squads, and fired on the passing troops in security and deliberation, sometimes even throwing stones on them. The latter lost all order, and in confusion and separate parties passed through, scarcely having the courage to stop and return the fire. An attendant of the Pasha, who rode at his side (when the path permitted), told me that the balls were like an infernal hail, and that the Pasha pushed through without stopping to make any defence. Defence was impossible, indeed; for no rear-guard dared make a stand, with the certainty of being blockaded and cut off when the main body had passed through. The Egyptians--timid as sheep in danger, but brutal as wolves when they had to deal with defenceless Christians--paid the penalty of their cruelty, and received no quarter. The native guides saved themselves in the rout, and many of the troops, confused in the intricacies of the way, hid themselves in the thickets, where, for several days after, parties were discovered and despatched, no quarter being given.