On the seventh day they arrived, and entered the harbour by the left tower, near the castle of Halk-al-vad, where they landed their men. When the Tunisians saw the infidels they joined Khair-ad-din; and the castle of Halk-al-vad being rather confined, the besieged cast a trench about it, raised tabors,[34] and disposed their artillery. The infidel forces having fixed their camps, for several days fierce engagements were fought, and more than six thousand of the enemy were slain; but as they constantly received fresh assistance from their rear, they kept their ground, and continued the assault: they also raised mounds, and strengthened themselves with one hundred and twenty pieces of cannon, which they landed from their ships. For thirty-two days and nights they kept up an incessant attack upon the castle, which exhausted their stock of ammunition. Thrice did the Moslems force their mound, on each occasion killing great numbers of the infidels; but the attack of the latter was so violent, that, finding it impossible to hold out any longer, they were obliged to evacuate the castle and secure themselves in Tunis.—The infidels then took possession of it, when Sultan Hassan, coming up with a few Arabs, mixed his own troops with the infidels, and sent letters, holding forth great promises, to his friends in Tunis. The Tunisians were at this time divided into four parties; one of them consisting of the people of the castle, and the other three of Mar’esh. Khair-ad-din having assembled these parties, thus addressed them: “You have received letters from the infidels: what is _your_ intention? _I_ shall go out and fight, but _you_ may remain in the city.” They cried out, “God forbid!” and swore they would accompany him. Nine thousand seven hundred men accordingly went out with him, the party that had seemed favourable to the enemy joining them, though against their inclination. When the infidels approached the castle, Khair-ad-din attacked them, and fought bravely. A few Algerines having made their appearance in the rear, the infidels turned back, and the Algerines pursued and killed many of them. The enemy being now on the point of making a retreat, the party that had been standing neutral fled towards the castle, Khair-ad-din sent men to induce them to return; but failing in his object, the others too began to fly, and he then removed his artillery to the castle. The infidels supposing that the Turks had fled, began to return, but after some slight skirmishing, as the evening drew on they retired to their tents. Next morning Khair-ad-din having raised a mound about the fortress, and sent his Algerines forward, leaving a person called Giafer Agha in charge of the city, shortly afterwards followed them himself. The infidels, being now greatly distressed by reason of the great heat and the scarcity of water, were about to retreat, when the Tunisians evacuated the city and fled. There were only four