The slaves, headed by the Maltese Knight, Paul Simeoni, induced their keepers, two Spanish renegades, to open the doors of the prison. Having pillaged the arms in the guardhouse, they expelled the Turkish governor, and afterwards obtained complete possession of the fortress. They found the standard captured by the Turks at Sarmiento, and, hoisting it on the highest tower of the citadel, communicated the news of their victory to the Spaniards outside the walls. Kheir-ed-Din fled towards Bone, where he had prudently left some of his ships. Then followed a time of rapine and murder, the almost indescribable atrocities of which it is impossible to relate. Charles did not call off his followers from their prey until they began to slay each other in the quarrels which arose over the division of their booty. Then and then only did the generals endeavour to restore order in the army, the conduct of which had, during three days, resembled that of “a hideous band of brigands.” When Mouley Hasan endeavoured to protect a Moorish slave-girl, she indignantly spat in his face. The Tunisians could never forgive even the restoration of a Beni Hafs purchased at such a price. The treaty by which Charles gave back the throne of his fathers to his protégé was a very short one. The following were its conditions:—(1.) The release without ransom of all Christian slaves. (2.) Freedom of faith and commerce to Christians. (3.) The Tunisians to abstain from piracy. (4.) Goletta to be ceded to Spain. (5.) An annual tribute of 12,000 piastres to be paid to the Spaniards. (6.) The suzerainty of Spain to be recognised by a yearly present of twelve horses and twelve falcons. (7.) Spain to protect Tunis against all foreign attacks. (8.) The castle at Tunis to be occupied by a Spanish guard until the country was completely pacified. Charles remained a few days at Rades, but before quitting the capital is said to have instituted an order of chivalry to commemorate his victory. The “Cross of Tunis” consisted of a flint and steel suspended from a golden chain bearing the word _Barbaria_.[22] The Emperor sailed for Italy, leaving a garrison of a thousand men and ten galleys at Goletta. While Italian historians were recording and Italian poets were singing the deeds of Charles and the glories of the Spanish arms, Kheir-ed-Din appeared before Mahon, reduced many of its inhabitants to slavery, and returned laden with booty to Algiers. CHAPTER V. SPANISH SUPREMACY.